1990 – The charity was founded as the Lung Cancer Fund by Professor Ray Donnelly, a thoracic surgeon working in Liverpool, to raise awareness of the problem of lung cancer, to promote an intensive research programme into the causes, prevention and management of the disease and to provide support for patients and their families.

One of his ultimate goals was to see a national screening programme for lung cancer in the UK.

1993 – The first grant to investigate the early genetic changes occurring in the development of lung cancer was given to Professor John Field, at the University of Liverpool.

Prof Donnelly also put together his ideas for an international centre for lung cancer research, based in Liverpool.Š

At this time much loved UK entertainer Roy Castle was diagnosed with lung cancer. Roy agreed to give his name to a special appeal for the Lung Cancer Fund to raise £12m to build, equip and run the centre.

1994 – Roy died in September and his heroic contribution was recognised by changing the name of the charity to The Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation in 1995.

1994-2001 – A series of international workshops, attended by research workers from North America and Europe, was held in Liverpool to advise the Foundation on the development of a research programme into the early diagnosis of lung cancer.

1997 – The Liverpool Lung Project is launched, researching the early diagnosis of lung cancer.Š

1998 – The International Roy Castle Lung Cancer Research Centre, on London Road, Liverpool, was officially opened.

2008 – The Roy Castle Lung Cancer Research team publishes details of a model it has developed to predict an individual’s risk of developing lung cancer, which it is hoped will lay the foundations for a screening programme.

2008 – Feasibility study launched into the possibility of a national lung cancer screening trial by researchers at the University of Liverpool.