GLASGOW’S world famous Beatson Institute is to launch a ‘game changing’ study which aims to develop new, personalised treatments for patients with advanced forms of bowel cancer.

Researchers will lead a joint UK and European project with around £5 million funding from Cancer Research UK .

Their aim is to better understand the different types of bowel cancer and develop more targeted treatments that could increase survival for patients diagnosed at a later stage.

The research has been welcomed by Paisley-born bowel cancer survivor Iain Kerr, 63, who is celebrating five years since the end of his treatment.

The dad-of-two had surgery to remove his tumour and a bowel resection, which was carried out using a surgical procedure never before performed in Scotland.

He said: “The specialist surgery I had – a procedure that was carried out in Scotland for the first time – that’s down to research.

“If this new research led by the scientists in Glasgow can provide a range of treatments that will meet the individual needs of patients with bowel cancer, and provide more options for them, that can only be a good thing.”