And its impact can be measured, with incredible results.In the 1970s, fewer than a quarter of people with cancer survived.

Due to significant advances in diagnosis and treatment, survival rates have doubled over the last forty years - today, half of people diagnosed with cancer will survive.

In 1996, the total life expectancy for a 20 year-old infected with HIV was 39 years. By 2011, that life expectancy had reached 70 years. Today, it almost matches the life expectancy of someone without HIV.

Disease of the liver, pancreas and biliary tree are often described as ‘silent’ – they develop quietly and only become apparent when they’re advanced and the options for treatment are limited.

At LAP Research, we’re focused on identifying markers that can spot these illnesses much earlier, and on novel, specific treatments. Ultimately, this can make a real difference. LAP Research is currently undertaking some very exciting projects.

The liver, pancreas, gallbladder and biliary tree are affected by illnesses that range from the simple and benign, to the life changing and fatal.

Although most people have heard of the liver in relation to news stories about alcohol consumption, fewer people have heard of the pancreas and its crucial role in the body, whilst the biliary tree and gallbladder are complete mysteries to most.This relatively poor awareness of these organs and the medical speciality that deals with them makes funding much-needed research into their causes and treatment very difficult.

The need for funding is clear: liver cancer and pancreatic cancer claim thousands of lives in the UK each year; pancreatitis is a poorly understood condition that affects all age groups and remains a killer of young and old alike; and cancers of the biliary tree have some of the lowest survival rates of any type of cancer.

Pancreatic cancer will be the fourth deadliest form in Britain by 2026 due to late diagnosis; survival rates have not changed meaningfully for 40 years due to a lack of research funding. Incidences of pancreatitis are increasing by nearly 3% per year and there is no known cure.

Whilst other organs and diseases have been much higher in profile over recent decades and investment in research into these areas has produced significant advances in prevention, diagnosis and treatments, the liver, pancreas and biliary tree have not been of similar focus.

After 17 years funding ground-breaking research projects, LAP Research is now ready to drive new clinical and political focus on this neglected area of medicine.