A leading cancer expert, who was set to test a radical treatment he had worked on for 20 years, has fallen victim to the killer disease.
Professor Tom Connors was due to take part in clinical trials of the anti-cancer drug at Bradford hospitals in June, but died of prostate cancer before he could try out his own treatment.
Today the city's scientists and doctors led tributes to the internationally-renowned figure, who was seen as instrumental in putting Bradford's Cancer Research Unit on the map.
He was a scientific adviser to Bradford-based charity War on Cancer between 1990 and 2000 and frequently visited Bradford University to discuss their work.
Professor John Double, who was taught by him as a student and now heads Bradford's Cancer Research Unit, said his death was a true irony for someone whose research had contributed to so much in the fight against cancer.
He said: "There can be no doubt that his advice and guidance to both the trustees of War on Cancer and the staff of the Cancer Research Unit has played a major part in the unit gaining international recognition as a centre for anti-cancer drug development.
"All of us are most grateful that someone of his eminence had been prepared to give his time in this way.
"His passing leaves a tremendous gap in the cancer research community and he will be sadly missed."
Professor Connors will be remembered for his outstanding role in drug development, including his life-saving work on anti-cancer agents cis-platinum and carbo-platin.
In 1999, he was awarded an honorary doctorate of science by Bradford University, which has been developing the drug he volunteered to test.
Professor Terry Jenkins, Yorkshire Cancer Research Chair of Drug Design at the university, said: "It's taken 20 years to get this far and the drug is extremely potent in tackling tumours. It's really sad that he's died in the year it's going to be tested.
"He was really the 'father' of cancer chemotherapy. Without him, we wouldn't be looking at these new drugs."
Professor Connors was formerly the director of the MRC Toxicology Research Unit and was appointed an honorary professor at London University following his retirement in 1994.
He died aged 67 and leaves his wife Pearl and daughters Frances and Clare.
