Professor Mariam Jamal-Hanjani has been officially appointed as the new Chief Clinician at Cancer Research UK, stepping into a prominent leadership role designed to shape the charity’s clinical research strategy and spearhead ongoing efforts to improve cancer treatment and patient care nationwide.
In her new position, Professor Jamal-Hanjani will guide the strategic direction of clinical research initiatives supported by the organization, bringing her extensive expertise in oncology and genomics to the forefront of the UK’s leading cancer research charity. She officially assumed the role in October 2026, succeeding Professor Charles Swanton, who held the position with distinction since 2017 and laid vital groundwork in understanding tumor heterogeneity and evolution.
Alongside her new responsibilities at Cancer Research UK, Professor Jamal-Hanjani serves as a Professor of Cancer Genomics and Metastasis at University College London (UCL). She is widely recognized within the international scientific community as a leading researcher specializing in the complex mechanisms of how cancer evolves, spreads throughout the body, and ultimately develops resistance to therapeutic treatments. Her academic and clinical background positions her uniquely to bridge the gap between complex laboratory discoveries and practical, bedside clinical applications.
Her pioneering research portfolio includes leading major, high-impact studies investigating lung cancer. Through this extensive work, she and her research teams have helped scientists gain deeper insights into how tumors dynamically change over time and why certain types of cancer become increasingly difficult to treat as the disease progresses. These insights are considered crucial for the future of oncology, as they pave the way for the development of more personalized, targeted treatments that can significantly improve clinical outcomes and survival rates for patients facing hard-to-treat malignancies.
The appointment has drawn widespread praise from leadership across the scientific and medical sectors. Michelle Mitchell, Chief Executive of Cancer Research UK, welcomed Professor Jamal-Hanjani to the role by highlighting her exceptional track record in guiding multidisciplinary teams toward groundbreaking discoveries.
"Mariam brings to Cancer Research UK deep experience of leading high-performing research teams that are delivering radical new insights into how cancer changes as it grows, spreads, resists treatment and sometimes returns," Mitchell said, emphasizing the immense value her expertise will bring to the charity’s overarching mission.
Reflecting on her new appointment and the responsibilities ahead, Professor Jamal-Hanjani expressed both enthusiasm and a deep sense of responsibility regarding the path forward for cancer research and treatment development.
"Cancer Research UK has an extraordinary track record of turning scientific discovery into real-world benefit for patients, and the chance to help shape that mission is something I feel deeply privileged to take on," Professor Jamal-Hanjani stated.
She further emphasized her core objective to accelerate the translation of laboratory research into tangible improvements in cancer outcomes. In discussing the pathway from discovery to patient care, she highlighted the National Health Service (NHS) as a vital and unique asset in connecting cutting-edge scientific innovations directly with the individuals who need them most, facilitating clinical trials and healthcare delivery on a national scale.
Professor Jamal-Hanjani takes over the Chief Clinician role from Professor Charles Swanton, whose tenure was marked by significant advancements in the understanding of cancer evolution and personalized medicine. As the new Chief Clinician, Professor Jamal-Hanjani will continue to champion innovative clinical trials and foster collaborations across the global scientific community, reinforcing Cancer Research UK’s commitment to beating cancer through world-class research.