New Zealand is to get its first facility for carrying out clinical trials on cancer patients.
The new centre will include a tumour tissue bank. Photo: A. BENOIST / BSIP
An anonymous donation of $1.4 million is paying for the research unit at the University of Auckland.
It is a joint initiative with the Auckland District Health Board and will involve oncology clinicians and researchers working at Auckland Hospital.
The centre will include a tumour tissue bank, as well as carrying out genomic research and testing new drugs on patients.
Cancer and Blood Service director Richard Sullivan said the unit would be designed to carry out research to the highest possible standards.