So much money goes into research -
is it really worth it?
Yes, absolutely. Leaving the status quo simply isn't an option
when we know 10,000 men a year die as a result of prostate cancer.
This will only improve with further research. Everything we already
know about prostate cancer is as a result of research done in the
past. It is important to continue research and build momentum for
the future. Men at risk of prostate cancer or who already have it
deserve the benefits of more research funding, which is where we
come in.
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How do you decide which research to
fund?
Scientists from laboratories, universities, individual
researchers and heads of departments are all looking for funding
for their research ideas. All applicants fill in a detailed form,
which then goes out to at least two experts in the field for their
review and comments. This is where the expression 'peer review'
comes from.
Professionals in the same field as the applicant will be able to
recognise the best proposals as well as inconsistencies or flaws in
applications. They will also be able to judge whether the budget
for the project is reasonable. This system of 'peer review'
highlights where projects might duplicate work or where a team
might have a poor track record - which makes research investment
risky. Peer reviewers also help identify projects which are
following a line of research which others have already found to be
a dead end.
The reviewers' comments are then examined by members of
our Research Advisory Committee, who
will recommend to Prostate Cancer UK's Board of Trustees which
projects should receive funding. Only those projects of the highest
quality will receive funding. Indeed, we often experience a common
research funding problem - we may not have the funds to support all
the high quality projects applied for.
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Why do charities fund this
research? Surely it's the Governments job?
Charities in the UK fund more research than both the NHS and the
Government together. As you know, we can't select where our taxes
go, so can you imagine how the public would feel if the Government
made all the decisions on what to concentrate on in cancer research
funding too? Charities are immune from the vagaries of government
or changes in political priorities.
Charities offer people the chance to support cancer research in
particular ways. People often have personal reasons for supporting
the aims of one charity as opposed to another. Besides, it would be
naïve of us to stop what we are doing, while we wait for the
government and the NHS to fund research because they 'should' be
doing it.
Cancer research takes time, money and patience. Promising
preliminary findings sometimes fade into dead ends. Sometimes some
things work well in the laboratory, but not in the patient. The
only way we can find this out is through research and by being
brave enough to risk going down the blind alleys, whilst looking
for the breakthroughs. Charities and Government and pharmaceutical
companies share the risk by all playing their parts in this
important task. Charities also have a clear vision and can put
patients and their families first and do not need to chase profits
or votes.
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What percentage of your income is
received from the UK Government, Scottish Parliament or Welsh
Assembly?
Very little. Sometimes none at all. Read our Annual Accounts for
full information. Any Government funding we have, we apply for.
Governments don't just give it away, even to a charity! We rely
almost entirely on voluntary donations and funds raised by the
public. To learn more about getting involved please visit the
fundraising page.
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How do we know that your research
projects are not being duplicated in other countries?
Our Research Advisory Committee
(RAC) is set up to help us avoid this and our system of
peer reviewing also helps prevent duplication. The RAC is made up
of experienced scientists, who are all experts in their fields and
who attend international meetings. They are also in touch with
their colleagues in other countries so they are aware of what is
happening in their field of research.
Bear in mind duplication of research is not always a bad thing -
it can also be necessary to confirm that the first scientist got it
right.
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Wouldn't it be better to concentrate
all the resources in one centre with all the researchers
together?
No, not for our current research priorities. Sometimes this
makes sense if a charity is concentrating on a particular branch of
cancer research. We fund a range of research projects, based around
our priorities as set out in the Research Strategy.
We strongly encourage researchers to collaborate, but they do
not need to work together in the same lab to collaborate. Cancer
researchers communicate constantly with each other, both at
conferences and over the Internet, in the UK and internationally.
Not all researchers are doing the same thing in the same way. Some
work in labs, and some work with patients, some study the local
community, others large populations so, all of them being in one
place wouldn't actually help a great deal.
Prostate Cancer UK believes it is in men's interests to see a
diversity of high quality research flourish wherever it is to be
found.
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Would Prostate Cancer UK fund
medical research which involves the use of animals?
Yes, but we will not fund research involving animals unless it
is deemed essential to a piece of research and there is no other
alternative.
In common with most medical research charities, we acknowledge
that despite developments in areas such as cell culture and
computer modelling there will be times when research still depends
on the use of animals. In particular, the law requires that all new
medicines, no matter what they are, must be tested on animals.
Prostate Cancer UK would like to see future advances made
without research involving animals, but currently work with animals
continues to be essential in some aspects of medical research. We
therefore support such work where no alternative exists and where
it is carried out according to best practice as laid down in
legislation.
This is not an issue that we or any of our scientists take
lightly. We encourage scientists to develop techniques that mean
the use of fewer animals in research. Our scientists must also
abide by very strict guidelines set by the UK Home Office which are
the most rigorous in the world. It is a requirement of our research
grants that grant-holders apply the principle of the three R's in
all animal experiments:
- Reducing the number of animals used in an experiment to the
minimum necessary for reliable results, and
- Refining the experimental procedures to minimise the pain,
suffering or distress caused to animals
- Replacing animal experiments wherever possible by non-animal
methods
Read
our full policy statement on the use of animals in
research.
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Would Prostate Cancer UK fund
medical research which involves the use of embryonic stem
cells?
This tends not to be an issue in prostate cancer research. Stem
cells are used in medical research to produce human tissue which
doctors might then use to replace missing or damaged tissue in
people with certain diseases. It is not necessary to carry out stem
cell research into reproducing prostate tissue to replace the lost
gland.
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