The GENERAL BOARD beg leave to report to the University as follows:
1. The Faculty Board of Clinical Medicine have advised the General Board of the need to establish a Professorship of Medical Oncology to provide academic leadership for clinical cancer research and teaching, in support of the development of the Cambridge Cancer Centre, associated with the new University of Cambridge/Hutchison/Cancer Research UK Institute.
2. Over the last ten years, the scale of NHS and academic clinical activity, and associated cancer research, on the Addenbrooke's Hospital Site has expanded substantially. Developments include the Hutchison/MRC Research Centre, the creation of a Centre for Genetic Epidemiology at the Strangeways Laboratories, and the new Institute which is due to open in 2006. On the clinical side, the growth of the Department of Oncology has been accompanied by the successful creation of the West Anglian Cancer Network and much closer clinical and research interactions with pathology, radiology, and surgery. Plans are being made for the development of a new clinical centre for cancer service delivery at Addenbrooke's, which will incorporate facilities for research.
3. Currently, Professor B. A. J. Ponder, in addition to his duties as Head of the Department of Oncology, is responsible for the academic leadership of the Strangeways Laboratories, the Hutchison/MRC Research Centre, the new Institute, and the wider Cambridge Cancer Centre. The Faculty Board have proposed, in order to allow the delegation of some of these responsibilities, the establishment of a Professorship of Medical Oncology, with primary responsibilities for the clinical academic Department and for the integration of clinical research across oncology and related cancer specialities.
4. The Professor would also have overall responsibility for undergraduate clinical teaching in Oncology and for developing the research component of Specialist Registrar training in both medical and radiation oncology, in concert with the Regional Training Directors. The Professor will be expected to be fully engaged in bringing together clinical and non-clinical cancer researchers in Cambridge, including Ph.D. students, and exploring with pre-clinical Departments the opportunities to participate in undergraduate teaching with cancer-related topics.
5. Cancer Research UK (CRUK) have agreed to meet the full costs of the Professorship, at Honorary Consultant level, for at least five years. The Clinical School will underwrite the funding of the post. The Department is able to accommodate the Professor within its existing space. To effect academic and clinical service integration the Professor will be based primarily in the Department's space in the Hospital Cancer Centre. To effect integration with the research groups there will also be office and shared laboratory space provided in the new Institute.
6. The Faculty Board of Clinical Medicine have advised the General Board that the Professorship is likely to attract a strong field of well-qualified applicants. The General Board have accepted this case and accordingly propose that a Professorship of Medical Oncology be established in the University for one tenure from 1 October 2005 and assigned to the Department of Oncology. The Board have agreed to concur in the view of the Faculty Board of Clinical Medicine that election to the Professorship should be made by an ad hoc Board of Electors and that candidature should be open to all persons whose work falls within the title of the Professorship.
7. The General Board recommend that a Professorship of Medical Oncology be established in the University from 1 October 2005 for one tenure, placed in Schedule B of the Statutes, and assigned to the Department of Oncology.
| 9 March 2005 | ALISON RICHARD, Vice-Chancellor | R. H. FRIEND | MELVEENA MCKENDRICK |
| TOM BLUNDELL | RICHARD HUNTER | ROGER PARKER | |
| WILLIAM BROWN | DREW LIVINGSTON | KEITH PETERS | |
| M. J. DAUNTON | D. W. B. MACDONALD | I. H. WHITE |