Interview with Rob Cross published in 'Chart News' Limpsfield Chart parish magazine Oct 2009

Farewell to cancer research on the Chart

For ~30 years, Marie Curie Cancer Care has run a cancer research institute on Limpsfield Chart. The Marie Curie Research Institute on Trevereux Hill is unobtrusive, but its science has a substantial international reputation. Chart residents have been very supportive over the years and many are justly proud of having a full-fledged international-quality research institute on their doorstep. So when the news broke in March this year that Marie Curie Cancer Care had decided to refocus its research strategy, there was a good deal of interested concern from chart residents, about both the future of the research, which many of us have supported for a number of years, and about the future of the institute building. Rumours are rife. To pin down what is happening, your editor spoke to Alex Holdaway, head of PR for Marie Curie Cancer Care, and to Dr Rob Cross, a group leader at the Institute who until recently lived on the Chart.

Alex told me that indeed it is true that the MCRI is closing, that the charity is extremely proud of the research work that has been done over the years in its research institute, that the research teams are moving to various different UK universities and that Marie Curie would continue to support them in their new scientific homes for some time to come. No decision has been taken about what to do with the building - 'this is not the time to be selling a building' says Alex.

Anyone wanting to know more is welcome to contact Marie Curie Cancer Care through its website (www.mariecurie.org.uk) or to contact the press department directly. Meanwhile I asked Dr Rob Cross about the experience of closure and about what the future held for him and his colleagues.

'the news that the institute is to close came as a shock - we are a tight community of researchers and support staff and that sense of community, both within the institute and within the charity, means a lot to us. But most of us have now calmed down and I think we all recognize that our charity, like any large institution, has to be able to regularly review and adjust what it does. The news of closure came as a surprise, but I for one am glad that a clear decision was taken, and then implemented quickly - in the end it is less painful to do that, so everyone can come to terms with it and move on. I have seen many examples in science over the years of people failing to take clear institutional decisions and stick by them. It may seem odd, but whilst I regret having to move away - we have been happy, successful and productive here - I think the charity has implemented its decision firmly and fairly. We are each working out our own scientific futures, approaching potential hosts and scanning the available opportunities. But we are able to do that on the back of an assurance that the charity will continue to support us in our new homes for several years to come, whilst other sources of funding are brought into play.'

'My own feelings are mixed. I moved here just about 18 years ago, and I and my work have both been well-supported by Marie Curie Cancer Care ever since. It's easy for me to date that, because my son was 6 months old when we moved, and he is off to University this year! Marie Curie Cancer Care offered me the chance to set up my own laboratory and to pursue my own research. Moving from Cambridge, where I trained, to Limpsfield Chart was an unconventional move - it is more usual to go to a campus university or to an institute in a large city - but I do not regret it for one instant. Making it all happen here on the Chart has been hard work, but immensely interesting, rewarding and productive. I think Marie Curie Cancer Care can be justly proud of its record of recruiting talented early-career group leaders, and then supporting their scientific development. A succession of excellent pieces of work have established us as global players. We have successfully done front-rank science in a small institute in an ex-convalescent home in the middle of the Surrey countryside.'

'The closure means different things for each of us - for some, new opportunities have opened up - a number of first-rank research institutions are keen to recruit us. Some of us are likely to opt for making the daily commute to London - there are many excellent opportunities there. Some are planning to move and start new stories elsewhere - my colleagues and I plan to move to Warwick university. For others, the closure will mean early retirement. It will be hardest for those who live locally and are unwilling or unable to move to find work.'

'The good news is that the work we have been doing will continue, and develop further. Most of our science will continue to be supported by Marie Curie Cancer Care for several years. The exceptions will be where people move abroad, to continental Europe or the US, because charitable rules confine MCCC support to the UK. I hope in time everyone who has been involved in the exciting and valuable work of the MCRI will come to look back with pride and satisfaction at the contributions we have made to fundamental cancer research. We expect to operate essentially as normal until Spring 2010, although some people will inevitably leave before then - indeed the exodus has already begun. Final closure is likely to be around the middle of 2010, although no exact date has been fixed.'