Inviron, the leading building services and facilities management provider, is due to begin work on a purpose built centre, attached to the Cambridge Breast Unit (CBU), at Addenbrooke's Hospital, which will provide a new facility for investigation and research into breast cancer.

The Building Systems, Ipswich, team will carry out the mechanical contract, which includes the installation of an air handling unit, medical gases pipework, ductwork and controls at the clinical and research centre.

Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in the UK affecting more than one in nine women and some men. The CBU provides a world-class multidisciplinary team of specialists in radiology, surgery and reconstruction, pathology, oncology and cancer genetics to provide diagnosis and treatment for patients.

A £2m appeal was launched to build a purpose built clinical and transitional research centre attached to the outpatient breast unit to bring research and the treatment of cancer together under one roof. To date, almost £1.6m has been raised towards the extension, which means that work can now begin.

Richard Plummer, Inviron's General Manager, Building Systems Ipswich, said: "Inviron is proud to be associated with this project, that will lead to the creation of a specialist unit which will help so many people."

Inviron is due to start on site in May with a finish date scheduled in August.

Anyone who wishes to make a donation to the appeal can do so via http://www.act4addenbrookes.org.uk/breast.html and clicking on 'Ways of Giving' on the menu on the right of the screen.

Also, members of the public can enter in to a competition to name a species of pink rose that has specially grown as part of the fundraising appeal. For more information about this they can log on to www.act4addenbrookes.org.uk