Oxford's world-leading cancer research scheme began over a cup of coffee, writes Victoria Owen. The Imperial Cancer Research Fund has decided to expand its work in the city because of its wealth of top scientists and bright thinkers.

But clinical director Dr John Toy explained that a coffee shop at the Institute of Molecular Medicine, at the John Radcliffe Hospital, also played a major role.

The social setting has helped research soar at the centre as scientists working on cancer, tropical disease, Aids, genetic disease and immunology, swap ideas and theories. He said: "Oxford is one of our proud and traditional university towns and renowned throughout the world, but it's also a wonderful place to live and the working environment it creates is lovely.

"When Prof Sir David Weatherall established the institute, he made sure there was a coffee shop where people could bounce ideas off one another and that means the research has grown and more people are attracted to the area."

Prof Weatherall was the driving force behind the institute when it was set up a decade ago. The Oxford University Professor of Medicine explained that laboratories are traditionally places where people don't talk and he saw vast benefits in linking scientists together socially. He said: "Food and drink are banned in labs and there is a tendency for people to work and not talk to others working only five yards away from them.

"It's been my experience over the years that having a communal room in a research building means people naturally talk to each other.

"Scientists sit down, relax and meet people from other disciplines. They realise they have common problems, common goals and common ideas and they form collaborations." Despite his vision to have a coffee shop where doctors and scientists could discuss their progress, Prof Weatherall found he had to battle for his plans to come to fruition.

He said: "I had a huge fight to get support for the coffee shop. I almost had to grovel, but now it's of major importance to the centre. "There is a lot of interaction and I think it's been one of the successes for all the work we do.

"When I worked in the States I tried to do the same thing, but people thought it was very strange. Eventually we got afternoon tea to be served and it was remarkable what an effect it had on research!"

The ICRF already has an established programme of research at the IMM, but is hoping to extend its work as part of a new multi-million pound investment in Oxford. It will also be developing its Clinical Research Centre at the John Radcliffe and is discussing plans for a new pathology unit at the hospital. Scientists will also be establishing a new epidemiology building at the Churchill Hospital, to investigate the spread of cancer.

Story date: Friday 17 December

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