Britain's biggest cancer research charity has revealed that it faces a £1bn funding gap over the coming decade and says a new collaboration between governments, universities and charities to create a national centre of excellence is needed if the momentum of new discoveries is to be maintained and the best talent attracted to work in Scotland.

Cancer Research UK's Chief Executive is calling for conversations to begin to allow the creation of a new Scottish Health and Biomedical Institute.

This, she says, will build upon the work of Scotland's cancer research centres, and serve as "a magnet” for both top talent and global investment into Scotland.

Speaking at a reception in the Scottish parliament, Michelle Mitchell warned that outcomes for cancer patients in Scotland and the rest of the UK lag behind those of comparable countries elsewhere in the world:

"The stark reality is the rate of improvement of cancer survival is really slowing down. And that's a source of concern. The figures here in Scotland are stark. Of the 34,000 people being diagnosed with cancer each year in Scotland, 16,000 are dying of cancer.”

Last year, the charity announced that it intends to invest £123m in Scotland over seven years, an average of £17.5m a year, with news that the Beatson Institute was to be renamed as the Cancer Research UK Scotland Institute.

Ms Mitchell told her audience that the case for investing in cancer research is not only about the benefit for patients, but also about the economic gains:

“Our analysis at Cancer Research UK has shown that a new institute here in Scotland has the potential to generate £3.3bn of gross value added in the UK economy. For every £1 invested in cancer research in the UK, we generate £2.80 in economic benefit.

“But when we look to the future, when we look to the next 10 years, because the challenges that charities are facing in terms of funding, we've identified a £1b gap in the next 10 years in Cancer Research UK funding.”

Ms Mitchell added:

“What we're saying is that the UK government, the Scottish government, charities and universities, philanthropists, need to come together to ensure this will £1b gap is closed.

“And it needs to be closed because, to remain competitive in the global war for cancer research talent, we have to make sure that we are funding, not turning down, the best ideas from the best people.”

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