The first Cancer Research UK centre launched in Dundee's Ninewells Hospital joins the others in Newcastle, Cardiff, Liverpool, Belfast and London. The focus of research centre is to unite different world-class research and medical expertise such as leading biomedical researchers at Dundee University, Cancer Research UK and clinicians in NHS Tayside to increase the pace of research leading to the development of new treatments.

It will focus on developing treatments for bowel, breast and skin cancer and carry research into malignant melanoma, the most serious type of skin cancer. Dundee's world-class research in radiotherapy and surgery would be carried by new highly advanced image-guided surgical techniques. The launch coincides with World Cancer Day 2010 which aims to raise awareness about cancer prevention.

The centre will receive funding of £7.5 million a year from Britain's main cancer charity.

Professor Irene Leigh, head of the university's college of medicine said, "This is a very exciting development for cancer research in Scotland.

Harpal Kumar, Chief Executive of Cancer Research UK, said that funding these centers of excellence was one of the charity's priorities to improve the treatment and survival of cancer patients. Cancer survivors welcomed the news of the new centre.