The aim of ACORRN - Action Radiotherapy is to improve treatment of cancer patients using radiotherapy, enabling more patients to be cured with fewer side effects. We will do this by supporting radiotherapy research and development, leading to the safe and effective implementation of state-of-the-art radiotherapy techniques across the UK.

Currently only about 6% of all the money spent on cancer research in the UK goes towards radiotherapy, despite 50% of cancer patients receiving radiotherapy as part of their treatment. This is not nearly enough to ensure that all patients in the UK can be given the most up to date treatments.

ACORRN - Action Radiotherapy has an ambitious 5 year, £5 million fundraising campaign to help build a high quality, stable radiotherapy and radiobiology research platform which will generate the highest standards of patient care. This will be achieved by (for example):

• Providing research training fellowships to clinicians and allied health professionals to develop a critical mass of active and dynamic researchers who will develop the radiotherapy techniques of the future.
• Providing research infrastructure for NHS centres, including equipment and research support staff.
• Working with professional bodies to develop guidelines and training programmes for research and clinical staff improve patient care and to effectively introduce new innovations in radiotherapy treatment.
• Supporting development of programmes to ensure best practice and continuous improvement throughout UK radiotherapy practice to ensure that all patients get high quality care no matter where they live.
• Work with patients, carers and clinicians to identify the most important and relevant clinical research questions which will have the most impact for patients.

And much, much more…

This is a very important research area, and this is an exciting opportunity to make a real difference to patients with cancer. Small improvements in the way we give radiotherapy could mean curing many thousands more patients every year.

We need your support. To find out more about ACORRN - Action Radiotherapy’s charitable activities, please visit our Charity section. You can make a difference by donating to the charity. Every penny counts, no amount is too big or too small.