YORKSHIRE Cancer Research is to invest £5m in projects which address what it describes as a North-South divide in cancer outcomes.

The Harrogate-based charity is investing the millions in nine projects which aim to improve the diagnosis, treatment and care of Yorkshire’s cancer patients.

It says people in the county are more likely to get cancer and more likely to die from it than most other counties in England. The selected projects all aim to tackle the poorer outcomes for Northern parts of England and are part of a renewed strategy by the charity to have a direct impact on patients within the Yorkshire.

The projects to receive funding include £1.5m for a clinical trial in Leeds which aims to improve outcomes in colorectal cancer patients undergoing surgery and a further £1.5m invested in a five-year project to improve survival of bowel cancer patients.

A two-year study at the Hull York Medical School will also receive funding to determine why older women are underrepresented within cervical screening programmes and how it can be addressed.

Charles Rowett, chief executive at Yorkshire Cancer Research said: “Our £5m investment has proven without a doubt that there is a huge need for more research to address cancer inequalities in our region, especially as national charities and the government continue to reduce their research expenditure in the North of England.

“We were overwhelmed by the number and quality of the applications received and it is clear that more needs to be done to ensure that everyone in Yorkshire has fair access to the same quality of diagnosis, treatment and care as they would elsewhere in the country.

“We are looking forward to continuing to work in partnership with universities and teaching hospitals, as well as other charities and organisations, to ensure that cancer outcomes in Yorkshire are dealt with as a matter of the highest priority.”