Grants of £5.6 million have been made to scientists trying to cure cancer.

The future of the University of Sussex's world-renowned Genome Damage and Stability Centre has been safeguarded for the next five years by the funding from the Medical Research Council.

Professors Penny Jeggo, Tony Carr and Alan Lehmann's work aims to understand the causes and consequences of cell damage and is important in diagnosing and curing diseases including cancer.

Professor Lehmann, chairman of the Genome Centre, said: "We are thrilled to have been awarded these large grants. Our proposals all got high scores from the awarding panels, a terrific recognition of the quality of our research."

Damage to the DNA molecules that make up our genomes is the fundamental cause of cancer. The ability of our cells to repair damage is a major way of protecting us from cancer.

They are also crucial for correct development of immune and neurological systems and they stop humans from ageing prematurely.

Professor Jeggo's grant of £1.5 million will finance two projects The first deals with the repair of a particularly aggressive form of cell damage which can lead to immune deficiencies and developmental problems.

She is also devising tests to uncover the problems cells have in sending signals to the rest of the body which can result in nerve disorders.

Professor Carr has been awarded £2.2 million to continue his work on DNA damage.

Part of Professor Lehmann's £2.1 million grant is to further his research into the causes of sunlight-induced skin cancer.

He said: "We are very fortunate to have an excellent team of students, junior and senior scientists plus technical staff and to have the support of our colleagues in the life sciences faculty. Much of the credit for these successful grant applications should be given to these colleagues."