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REPORT

Report of the General Board on the establishment of a Professorship of Haemato-oncology

The GENERAL BOARD beg leave to report to the University as follows:

1. As one of the major causes of premature death, cancer forms a major subject of research in the Clinical School. Within this field of study, research into the leukaemias and related disorders, which constitutes a major branch of clinical haematology known as malignant haematology, is of particular interest and focuses on the biology of cell proliferation and differentiation. There is every expectation that this research will lead to the development of novel approaches to the diagnosis and therapy of haematological malignancies.

2. The Department of Haematology is recognized as having international standing in this area of research, which is well supported through research grants, and benefits from close interaction with other research groups in the Cambridge area, particularly the Wellcome/CRC Institute of Cancer and Developmental Biology, the Sanger Centre, and the Human Genome Mapping Project, at Hinxton. There is now a need for leukaemia-related research to be more closely linked to the clinical service and clinical research in malignant haematology at Addenbrooke's Hospital. Furthermore, following the establishment of the new Centre for Cancer Research within the Clinical School (see the Second Report of the Council on the development of the Island Site at Addenbrooke's Hospital, Reporter, p. 239), there is a need to enhance the teaching programme in this area of cancer research to meet the requirements of clinical medical students, as well as postgraduate teaching to junior hospital doctors. The Faculty Board of Clinical Medicine are of the view that a senior appointment at professorial level would help to strengthen the programmes of both teaching and collaborative research.

3. The Faculty Board have therefore informed the General Board that it is now opportune to establish a Professorship of Haemato-oncology, to provide the necessary leadership for the development of teaching and research programmes in malignant haematology, and to facilitate the integration of these programmes into the work of the new Centre. The Addenbrooke's NHS Trust have generously offered to meet the full cost of the proposed Professorship, at Honorary Consultant level, for a single tenure.

4. The General Board have accepted the case made by the Faculty Board and have agreed to support the proposal. The Faculty Board have agreed that, should NHS financial support cease prematurely, the cost of the office would be met by the Faculty Board from within existing resources, ahead of any new developments or the filling of vacant offices. The General Board are assured that suitable accommodation and the necessary support and facilities for the Professor can be provided from the resources at present available to the Department of Haematology. The Addenbrooke's NHS Trust have agreed to award an Honorary NHS Consultant Contract to the successful candidate. The Board are satisfied that an appointment at this level will be likely to attract a strong field of well-qualified candidates.

5. The General Board accordingly propose that a Professorship of Haemato-oncology be established in the University for one tenure from 1 August 1999 and assigned to the Department of Haematology. They have agreed to concur in the view of the Faculty Board of Clinical Medicine that an election to the Professorship should be made by an ad hoc Board of Electors, and that candidature should be open without limitation or preference to all persons whose work falls within the general field of the title of the office.

6. The General Board recommend:

That a Professorship of Haemato-oncology be established for one tenure from 1 August 1999, placed in Schedule B of the Statutes, and assigned to the Department of Haematology.

27 January 1999

T. J. MEAD, Registrary

END OF THE OFFICIAL PART OF THE 'REPORTER'

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Cambridge University Reporter, 3 February 1999
Copyright © 1999 The Chancellor, Masters and Scholars of the University of Cambridge.