£35m cancer treatment centre to be built in Knowledge Quarter
Plans have been unveiled for a £35m cancer treatment centre in Liverpool.
Proton Partners International says it will be built in the new £1bn Paddington Village part of the city’s Knowledge Quarter.
It will be one of four centres built by Proton in the UK, making the company the world’s largest developer of proton beam therapy centres. The others are being built in Newport, Northumberland and Reading and further sites are being considered.
The oncology centre, which will be known as The Rutherford Cancer Centre North West, will offer radiotherapy, chemotherapy and imaging from 2018, and proton beam therapy will be available in 2019.
Joe Anderson, Mayor of Liverpool, said: “We are delighted KQ Liverpool has been able to attract another prestigious development to Paddington Village.
“Momentum is really beginning to build for KQ Liverpool and we can expect more exciting announcements like Proton Partners International’s, which will further cement its reputation as a world leading hub in medical and life sciences research.”
Mike Moran, chief executive officer of Proton Partners International, said: “I am delighted to announce that our fourth UK centre is to be in my home city of Liverpool.
“Not only will we be bringing the top cancer technology to the North West, but we will be located at heart of what will be a world-class destination for science, innovation, education and technology.
“This investment will not only enhance the level of cancer treatment available to patients, but will also bring skilled jobs to the area.”
It is expected The Rutherford Cancer Centres will each be able to treat up to 500 patients a year and treatment will be available to medically-insured private patients, self-paying patients and patients referred by the NHS.
Proton is also building a genomics research centre at the Life Sciences Accelerator building in Liverpool which will be the first part of a health campus set to surround the £335m new Royal Liverpool Hospital. The genomics programme will support Proton’s broader research work with the University of Liverpool’s Physics Department.
Proton is a private limited company, registered in Wales. The company was formed following discussions between Professor Karol Sikora, former head of the World Health Organisation’s cancer programme, Prof Sir Chris Evans, the life sciences entrepreneur, and Neil Woodford, founding partner of Woodford Investment Management. Institutional and private investors committed to almost £100m equity finance in the company.
Professor Gordon McVie, clinical research adviser to the FIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology (IFOM), is non-executive chairman and Prof Karol Sikora is chief medical adviser to the company.
The Welsh Government’s Life Sciences Investment Fund is a key investor in Proton Partners International.
