The University of Cambridge's position at the forefront of cancer research will be further enhanced by the founding of a new Professorship of Oncology, endowed through a generous gift of GBP 2 million from the Li Ka Shing Foundation ("LKSF").

Professor Bruce Ponder, Director of the Cancer Research UK Cambridge Research Institute, will be the first holder of the Li Ka Shing Professorship of Oncology. He will oversee all aspects of research into cancer on the Cambridge biomedical campus.

Professor Ponder said, "The generosity of Sir Ka-shing Li has inspired and made possible in Cambridge a new, internationally excellent, centre for cancer research. My colleagues and I are truly grateful for this further demonstration of his support."

In his new capacity, Professor Ponder will oversee: research on the epidemiology of cancer at the Strangeways Research Laboratory; translational clinical research in Addenbrooke's Hospital; cellular and molecular studies in the Hutchison/MRC Research Centre and a range of research groups in the new Cancer Research UK Cambridge Research Institute, whose GBP 50 million headquarters, The Li Ka Shing Centre, will be officially opened by Her Majesty The Queen in February 2007.

"Cambridge is a first-class university, and the Cancer Research UK Cambridge Research Institute is at the forefront of cancer research," said Sir Ka-shing Li, in congratulating Professor Ponder. "I am certain that the work of Professor Ponder and his team will benefit all mankind in finding cures, better treatments, early detection and prevention for this disease."

Sir Ka-shing Li is Chairman of Cheung Kong (Holdings) Limited and Hutchison Whampoa Limited, with business interests in ports, property and hotels, retail, biotechnology, energy and infrastructure, and telecommunications. To date, Hutchison Whampoa is the largest Asian investor in the UK, with over GBP 14 billion investments in 3G mobile broadband, ports, property, retail, health products and infrastructure.

In 2000 Sir Ka-shing Li was knighted by the Queen. Sir Ka-shing Li and Hutchison Whampoa Limited are Members of the Guild of Cambridge Benefactors and Sir Ka-shing Li holds an honorary degree from the University.

Sir Ka-shing Li and HWL are strong supporters of the work at Cambridge University. In addition to the cancer research centre, he also contributed to the new wing of the Churchill Archive - which was built to house the papers of Baroness Thatcher - and in 2000 established the Li Ka Shing Programme for Cambridge Scholars, funding a series of lectures and research visits to China by Cambridge academics.

The Li Ka Shing Foundation was established in 1980. The Foundation focuses on capacity building and the nurturing of a caring society, reflecting the founder's belief that a culture of giving is crucial to the well-being of society. More than 80 per cent of the Foundation's gifts and endowments are in education, medical research and healthcare projects.

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