Editing Cancer Research UK (section)

== History ==
The '''Imperial Cancer Research Fund''' (ICRF) was founded in 1902 as the Cancer Research Fund, changing its name to the Imperial Cancer Research Fund in 1904. It grew over the next twenty years to become one of the world's leading cancer research charities.<ref name="Austoker"/> Its executive committee was chaired by [[Sir William Church, 1st Baronet|Sir William Church]] from its inception in 1902 until 1923.<ref>{{cite web|title=Sir William Selby Church|website=Royal College of Physicians of London|url=https://history.rcplondon.ac.uk/inspiring-physicians/sir-william-selby-church}}</ref> Its flagship laboratories formerly at [[Lincoln's Inn Fields]], [[London]], and Clare Hall, [[Hertfordshire]], and known as the Cancer Research UK [[London Research Institute]], are now part of the [[Francis Crick Institute]].<ref name="merge"/>

The British Empire Cancer Campaign (BECC) was founded in 1923, and initially drew a hostile response from ICRF and the [[Medical Research Council (UK)|Medical Research Council]], who considered it a rival.<ref name="Austoker">Austoker, Joan. ''A history of the Imperial Cancer Research Fund, 1902-1986.'' Oxford University Press, 1988.</ref><ref name="Wellcome">[http://www.aim25.ac.uk/cats/20/4605.htm Cancer Research Campaign formerly British Empire Cancer Campaign] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303220044/http://www.aim25.ac.uk/cats/20/4605.htm |date=3 March 2016 }}, 1923-1981. [[Wellcome Library]] Archive. Retrieved 1 February 2011</ref> "The Campaign", as it was colloquially known, became a very successful and powerful grant-giving body. In 1970, the charity was renamed '''The Cancer Research Campaign''' (CRC).<ref name="Wellcome"/>

Incorporated on 20 November 2001,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cancer Research UK: overview |url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/04325234 |access-date=2022-03-26 |website=Companies House UK.GOV |language=en}}</ref> the two organisations officially merged on 4 February 2002 to form Cancer Research UK, the largest independent cancer research organisation in the world (the largest, the [[National Cancer Institute]], is funded by the US Government).<ref name="Guardian 2002">[https://www.theguardian.com/society/2002/feb/04/charities.charitymanagement World's biggest cancer charity formed], ''The Guardian'', 4 February 2002.</ref><ref name="pmid11875441">{{cite journal |title=Cancer Research UK |journal=Nat. Cell Biol. |volume=4 |issue=3 |pages=E45 |date=March 2002 |pmid=11875441 |doi=10.1038/ncb0302-e45 |doi-access=free }}</ref> At the time of the merger, the ICRF had an annual income of £124m, while the CRC had an income of £101m.<ref name="Guardian 2002"/>

Based on article share during the period between January 2015 to August 2019, [[Nature (journal)|''Nature'']] listed Cancer Research UK in the top 150 of the Top 200 institutions in cancer research in the world.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Top 200 institutions in cancer research {{!}} Nature Index 2020 Cancer |url=https://www.natureindex.com/supplements/nature-index-2020-cancer/tables/overall |access-date=2022-03-26 |website=Nature |language=en}}</ref>

CRUK had an income of £718,793,138 and expenditure of £640,845,146 for the financial year ending in 31 March 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |title=CANCER RESEARCH UK - Charity 1089464 |url=https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/3987102/charity-overview |access-date=2022-03-26 |website=Register of Charities, Charity Commission of England and Wales |language=en-GB}}</ref>

On 30 April 2024, [[Charles III|King Charles III]] was announced as patron of the charity.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-04-30 |title=His Majesty King Charles III announced as new patron of Cancer Research UK |url=https://news.cancerresearchuk.org/2024/04/30/king-charles-iii-new-patron-of-cancer-research-uk/ |access-date=2024-04-30 |website=Cancer Research UK - Cancer News |language=en-GB}}</ref>