New state-of-the-art cancer research laboratories, built with funding from the Cancer Research Campaign and the University of Bradford, are due to be officially opened today.

The extension to the Cancer Research Unit has been designed to enable Bradford to maintain its excellent track record in cancer research as one of the UK's leading centres for anti-cancer development.

Built with a cash injection of £900,000 donated jointly by the Cancer Research Campaign and the university, the building contains six new laboratories as well as offices and meeting rooms.

It is now ready to host a programme of anti-cancer drug discovery and development, which will be supported over five years with more than £4.5m from the CRC.

The site is due to be officially opened by Arnold Moore, founder of the former Bradford charity, War on Cancer and honorary president of the Cancer Research Campaign in Yorkshire.

The cancer unit's director, Professor John Double said: "With such vastly- improved facilities and our close links with Bradford Royal Infirmary, we are confident that we will increasingly be able to translate laboratory advances into patient benefit."

Until April 2000, when it merged with the Cancer Research Campaign, War on Cancer, had been the chief source of financial support for the Cancer Research Unit.

Work carried out at the unit includes developing effective anti-cancer treatments in common cancers like breast and large bowel cancer.

Director of the Cancer Research Campaign, Professor Gordon McVie, said: "Much progress has been made in the fight against cancer and Bradford is already well and truly on the map in this fight, so we are very pleased to be helping to further its success with these superb facilities and funding."