Birmingham will become the first link in a unique chain of Cancer Research UK Centres to be launched round the country.
These cancer centres will draw together world class research and areas of medical expertise to achieve the best possible results for cancer patients nationwide.
As the first Cancer Research UK Centre, Birmingham will set the pace for national and international progress for genetics, gene therapy and the link between viruses and some cancers as well as focussing on cancers of the prostate and bladder and leukaemia. It will also become a leading centre for clinical trials.
Collaboration is the key to the success of the Centre which will also concentrate on large-scale population studies, cell biology and tumour immunology.
Cancer Research UK already supports research in Birmingham but is set to increase its contribution to around £9m a year to help develop the Centre.
Professor Lawrence Young, head of the University of Birmingham's College of Medical and Dental Sciences, said: "Making a real difference to cancer patients is what we are all about. The new Cancer Research UK Centre in Birmingham will help us to fast track new laboratory discoveries into the clinic.
"We are at the forefront of a cancer revolution - translating our research into new treatments.We have created a unique blend of doctors, scientists and nurses - all working together to ensure that laboratory discoveries are rapidly developed into treatments that will improve the lives and extend the survival of patients in the West Midlands."
In partnership with the University of Birmingham, the Centre also aims to attract and train the highest quality clinical and non-clinical cancer research students, to develop infrastructure for tissue banking and data collection across the West Midlands, to strengthen collaboration between scientists and clinicians and to improve international communication.
Professor Paul Moss, who is head of the University of Birmingham's Cancer Research UK Institute of Studies and head of cancer sciences, said: "This is an extremely exciting period in cancer research where years of investment in understanding the basic mechanisms responsible for the development of cancer are being translated into new therapies, better diagnosis and improved survival.
"The Cancer Research UK Centre in Birmingham is at the forefront of these developments and has created a unique environment for advancing our understanding of cancer and applying this knowledge to the benefit of patients."
Alan Johnson, a 61 year old retired architect, was diagnosed with bladder cancer six years ago and believes he was very lucky to go on a trial in Birmingham. "When someone says you've got cancer it frightens the living daylights out of you. It is a terrifying thing but people just don't realise it's no longer the death sentence it was years ago.