Cancer Research

The founder of the Taylor Family Foundation, Ian Taylor, fought a long battle with cancer. Although he did not ultimately overcome it, his legacy continues in supporting people who are struggling with similar diagnoses.

In particular, he was moved by his personal experience of being greatly helped by Proton Beam Therapy to make Proton Beam Therapy available freely in the UK through the National Health Service (NHS).

Proton Beam Therapy (PBT) is a much less invasive treatment than radiotherapy, where particles smaller than an atom are fired with pin point accuracy at tumours at over half the speed of light. Instead of being treated by doctors, patients are treated by physicists. PBT deposits a radioactive payload with microscopic precision, potentially curing cancer even in people who cannot receive more radiotherapy. PBT is particularly effective for: brain, head and neck cancers, paediatric cancers, tumours near critical organs (e.g. spinal cord) and sarcomas.

The Taylor Family Foundation has supported the development and availability of PBT therapy through its partnerships with Cancer Research UK, the Institute of Cancer Research, The Christie Cancer Centre in Manchester and University College London Hospitals (UCLH) in London. These funding cycles are long-standing with a commitment up till 2030.

We are delighted that we have been able to support the expanded use of PBT which will help other families with cancer diagnoses.