Cancer patients in Bradford could be the first to test drugs developed in the city thanks to a new specialist.

Professor Chris Twelves has been appointed as a clinical director based at the world-renowned Cancer Research Unit at the Univer-sity of Bradford.

Professor Twelves' role is NTRAC Professor of Clinical Cancer Pharmacology at the University of Leeds' Medical School Oncology Unit.

The school, along with Bradford's Cancer Research Unit, last year became one of ten NTRAC - National Translational Cancer Res-earch Network - centres, to help improve care.

Professor Twelves will be based in Bradford and act as a link between the laboratory and clinical trials in which new drugs are tested.

"That is often the very first time that patients have been given the drugs and we need to monitor them very carefully, looking to see how much can be given, side effects and whether there are any signs that it is doing what we want," he said.

He said that drugs developed at the unit had previously been taken elsewhere for clinical trials, but it was hoped that would now happen in Bradford.

"This is an exciting time in cancer-drug research and I am looking forward to bringing new treatments to patients in the area."

Professor Twelves was previously a reader in medical oncology at Glasgow University, which he said had given him the experience and expertise needed for his new role.

The Hull-born 46-year-old said he was looking forward to returning to Yorkshire, having previously lived in Leeds and completed his medical training in Sheffield.

He trained as a cancer specialist at Guy's Hospital in London before moving to Glasgow.

Professor Twelves is married with two children.

Professor John Double, former director of the Cancer Research Unit, said they were delighted to appoint Professor Twelves.

"Now we are one of the NTRAC centres, it means that we can better provide accessible high-quality, patient-centred cancer services," he said.

"New drugs developed at the unit will be able to go to clinics in Leeds or Bradford, whereas previously this was not possible."