About Us
Accelerating Rare Cancer REsearch
RareCan places patients and data at the heart of research, including the discovery of better ways to prevent, diagnose and treat rare cancer.
What is RareCan?
Our VAlues
We are an organisation that exists to improve outcomes for people with rarer forms of cancer and everything we do is governed by our core values.
Impactful
Everything we do is led by and aimed at having a positive impact on people affected by rare cancers.
Trustworthy
We are transparent about how we operate, work with integrity and to the highest ethical standards, keeping our members’ data safe and secure.
Determined
We are passionate about making a difference and impatient to see things change for the better.
Brave
We are forthright and ambitious about challenging the status quo, and not afraid to be audacious on behalf of, and with the permission of our members.
Inclusive
We work to include everyone affected by rare cancers and are open to all researchers with ethically approved research studies.
Our Team
DEBORAH COPLAND
Communications Specialist
Debs has over 20 years’ experience of communications, marketing and project management within the retail sector including Marks and Spencer, Home Retail Group and Monsoon Accesorize. She has a breadth of experience engaging with key stakeholders across challenging programs of change, and brings with her enthusiasm every step of the way.
MARY RICHARDS
Community Development Officer
Mary has over 20 years experience in helping adults communicate more effectively in all kinds of situations and workplaces. She has used these skills in working with small charities, universities and large multi-national organisations, exploring ideas and tools to best help effective, difficult conversations.
Over the last three years she has used these skills to grow supportive networks for two small community interest companies, working with families and young children facing poverty and isolation.
PHOEBE LEE
CRM & Automation Officer
Phoebe is a CRM Consultant and Automation Architect who specialises in automative solutions to organisation challenges. Prior to joining the team, Phoebe was a charity Director and a Head of Digital Solutions. This experience equipped her as a specialist in implementing CRM systems with a strong focus on impact and community engagement.
STEVEN MCGURK
Digital Marketing Officer
Steven is a digital marketing expert who specialises in Search Engine Optimisation and online advertising. Before joining RareCan, Steven worked as a freelancer and at marketing agencies in the UK, Belgium and Singapore for clients across a wide variety of sectors.
WARREN RAYE
Partnership Development Lead
Warren is an Open Access/Data/Research/Science advocate, STM publishing professional, and ex-virologist. For more than 20 years’ he has been involved in the publishing, higher education, and research sectors, working across Australia, Japan, China and the UK in roles as diverse as ‘Head of Outreach & Partnerships’, ‘Senior Publisher’, ‘Chief Scientific Advisor’, ‘Senior Editor’ and ‘Presenter’. He has experience in mentoring and leading teams, managing the performance of scientific journal portfolios, journal development, stakeholder relationship management, content creation, lead generation, and business development. Warren is currently at Cambridge University Press, a not-for-profit publisher, as Executive Commissioning Editor of new publication products, such as Cambridge Prisms and Research Directions.
HANNAH FERRIS
Office Administrator
A recent graduate from Newcastle university, Hannah joined RareCan to put into practise what she has learnt from her studies.
Whilst studying for her degree, Hannah worked at a covid lab and saw first hand the important work being done and the need for everyone to work together within new scientific developments.
As well as helping with the day to day running of the team, Hannah thrives on helping our members and finding the right treatment for them.
Becky Dodds
Business Process Manager
ABOUT RARECAN LIMITED
RareCan Limited is an organisation set up for the purpose of speeding up research and ultimately improving outcomes for people with rarer forms of cancer. We have adopted a legal structure that we believe achieves the right balance between providing an attractive investment opportunity to stimulate and maintain the financial backing required to set up and grow RareCan in a sustainable manner, as well as ensuring that we remain true to our purpose. Alongside this, we have plans to start a social benefit trust, which will be funded by the profits generated by RareCan to be fed back into the rare cancer communities we serve.
Our Core Values
RareCan Ltd will benefit members by enabling people to share, manage and protect their personal data. We believe that personal information is valuable, vulnerable and private. We are committed only to undertake activities which will contribute to the company’s stated purpose as set out in our Articles of Association and to ensure that any personal benefits are a by-product of the activities of the company.
As we grow we will work towards becoming a B Corporation. B Corporations are businesses that balance purpose and profit. They are required to consider the impact of their decisions on their workers, customers, suppliers, community and the environment. B Corporations meet the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance, public transparency and legal accountability.
Company Structure
RareCan Ltd is a company limited by shares registered in England, Company Number 12844377. Our shareholders are our directors, staff and investors that provide the capital needed to make RareCan a success. The company has a board of directors made up of the four founding directors and two non-executive directors.
Our Business Model
RareCan generates its income from researchers who use our platform. We charge a fee for access to the data we hold and the income this generates is then reinvested back into RareCan. These fees are determined by the type of research or project being undertaken, the data being requested to undertake that research or project and the nature of the funder of the research.
I'm a supporter
If you’re a friend or family member of someone with cancer, a nurse, an oncologist, an activist, a fundraiser or you’d simply like to help, please start here.
I'm a researcher
If you are interested in setting up a research project or clinical trial aimed at improving the care people affected by rare cancer receive please start here.
