The centre hopes to attract top scientists

The main part of the new development at the Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute in Glasgow will be a building which will accommodate 240 academics.

The University of Glasgow and Cancer Research UK are jointly providing the bulk of the funds to finance the project.

The aim will be to ensure a number of distinct benefits for the country's cancer patients including:

• Better co-ordination between scientists and doctors, in finding new and improved treatments for cancer
• Rapid development of basic science into application for the benefit of patients
• Improved training of cancer doctors, helping them to introduce new treatments into the clinic more quickly
• Recruitment of the highest quality research staff, including the attraction of top names from around the UK and from abroad.

Researchers at the institute will tackle cancer from a range of angles, from research into the fundamental biology of cancer cells to the development of new targeted treatments.

The centre will form strong links with the rejuvenated Beatson Oncology Centre, which is about to receive its own new building at Gartnavel General Hospital.

The two organisations will officially apply for planning permission next week.

It will be a melting pot of some of the most talented scientists and doctors in the country Professor Karen Vousden Beatson Institute

Professor Karen Vousden, director of the Beatson Institute and one of Cancer Research UK's leading scientists, said: "It's really exciting to be part of a development which will become a world leader in the battle against cancer.

"It will be a melting pot of some of the most talented scientists and doctors in the country, giving us the best possible chance of making progress against the disease."

Professor John Coggins, dean of the university's Faculty of Life Sciences hopes the centre will also attract international research to Glasgow.