Coldplay support University cancer campaign
International rock sensations Coldplay have donated to the University of Southampton’s campaign for the Centre for Cancer Immunology.
The band chose the campaign through the close links drummer Will Champion has with both Southampton and the University. Will grew up in Southampton and his parents were both senior academics at the University before his mother sadly passed away from cancer in 2000.
Will said: “Cancer is a devastating disease that affects so many of us. The work the University of Southampton is doing is truly groundbreaking and we are very happy we can support it in this way. It is amazing this is happening in Southampton.”
Construction of the Centre is expected to be completed this autumn, with an official opening planned for spring/summer 2018. It will be the UK’s first and only centre dedicated to cancer immunology research and will bring world-leading cancer scientists together under one roof, enabling interdisciplinary teams to expand clinical trials and develop lifesaving drugs. By the time it is fully operational, it is expected to double the number of patients on clinical trials.
The Centre, which is based at University Hospital Southampton, is being funded by a £25m fundraising campaign by the University of Southampton. Coldplay’s donation moves the fundraising total to £21.6m.
The band, who have had seven number one albums, will have their name on the donor wall in the Centre foyer alongside other people who have made a significant donation to the campaign.
Professor Tim Elliott, Director of the Centre, said: “We are very grateful to Coldplay for this generous gift. Our new Centre will allow us to build on our expertise to make even greater progress in developing new treatments. The University has made major advances in tumour immunology and immunotherapy research and we strongly believe the new Centre will go a long way in helping many more people with cancer become free of the disease.”
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