CANCER survivors have joined with research scientists to celebrate a major advance for the region.

Thanks to the coming together of national and local charities a new cancer research facility is being kitted out with £1.25m worth of equipment.

The highly specialised equipment will be used by scientists at the £11m purpose-built Northern Institute for Cancer Research Paul O'Gorman Building.

Scientists from four sites across Newcastle University have now moved into the new building, named after a 14 year old boy whose family set up the Foundation for Children with Leukaemia charity.

The new centre will act as a powerhouse for research into more effective treatments and help people like Emma Duncan, from Low Fell, Gateshead, and Lorraine Burnett, from Scarborough.

Emma was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2003, a disease which killed her mother at the age of 32 and her grand-mother at the age of 46. Thanks to advances in treatment Emma is now doing well.

"It is wonderful that all this will be happening here in the North-East," she said.

Lorraine, who was diagnosed with leukaemia in 2001 has benefited from a pioneering drug called Glivec trialled by scientists at Newcastle University, said: "Research has made all the difference to my life. It's good news for cancer patients everywhere that the new institute is up and running. The funding from all the charities will make a very real difference to people diagnosed with cancer."

Professor Herbie Newell, Professor of Cancer Therapeutics at Newcastle University, says: "People in the North-East now have one of the most advanced cancer research facilities in Europe, here, on their doorstep."

Funding for equipment is being provided by Cancer Research UK (£500,000), the Leukaemia Research Fund (£300,000), the North of England Children's Cancer Research Fund (£300,000) and the Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Charity and Newcastle Healthcare Charity (£150,000).

Professor Newell said: "The new facilities will provide a major boost for our research. They will help scientists to collaborate more effectively and enable us to fast track new treatments from the laboratory bench to the patient's bedside."

"Our aim is to identify two new targets for anti-cancer drugs each year and to take one treatment from development in the lab into clinical trials.

The new centre was funded by the Government (£4 million), Cancer Research UK (£3.5 million), the Foundation For Children With Leukaemia (£2 million) and Newcastle University (£1.5 million).