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 steer the charity’s clinical research strategy and spearhead national efforts to improve cancer treatment, diagnosis, and patient care.
An internationally recognised authority in her field, Professor Jamal-Hanjani serves as a Professor of Cancer Genomics and Metastasis at University College London (UCL). Her academic and clinical career has been defined by groundbreaking investigations into how cancer evolves, spreads throughout the body, and develops resistance to conventional medical treatments. By examining the complex genetic landscapes of tumours, her work aims to dismantle the barriers that currently limit the effectiveness of modern therapies.
Her extensive research portfolio features major studies focusing heavily on lung cancer, one of the most challenging and prevalent forms of the disease globally. Through her scientific leadership, researchers have gained deeper insights into the dynamic nature of tumours—specifically how they change over time and why certain cancers become increasingly difficult to treat as the disease progresses. This intricate understanding of cancer evolution is widely viewed by the medical community as a critical stepping stone toward paving the way for more highly targeted treatments, personalised medicine, and ultimately, vastly improved survival rates and long-term outcomes for patients facing a cancer diagnosis.
The appointment has been met with high 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 high-performing scientific teams toward major breakthroughs.
Reflecting on the appointment, Michelle Mitchell stated that Professor Jamal-Hanjani brings 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. This level of expertise is considered vital as the charity continues to fund and coordinate large-scale clinical trials and translational research programmes across the United Kingdom.
Addressing her new responsibilities, Professor Jamal-Hanjani expressed a deep sense of honour and professional responsibility regarding the appointment. She noted that Cancer Research UK possesses an extraordinary, proven track record of turning complex scientific discoveries into tangible, real-world benefits for patients. The opportunity to help shape and direct that overarching mission is something she feels deeply privileged to take on.
Furthermore, Professor Jamal-Hanjani emphasized her core ambition to accelerate the translation of laboratory research into improved clinical outcomes for individuals affected by the disease. In discussing the broader landscape of British healthcare and research infrastructure, she highlighted the National Health Service (NHS) as a monumental asset. The NHS provides a unique and powerful bridge connecting cutting-edge scientific discoveries directly with patients on the ground, creating an integrated ecosystem where clinical trials can be efficiently delivered and evaluated within diverse patient populations.
Professor Jamal-Hanjani officially commenced her tenure as Chief Clinician in October 2026. In stepping into the position, she succeeds Professor Charles Swanton, a renowned oncologist and researcher who held the prestigious role with distinction since 2017. Professor Swanton’s tenure was marked by significant advancements in understanding tumour heterogeneity and mutational processes, leaving a robust foundation for Professor Jamal-Hanjani to build upon as she charts the next chapter of clinical research leadership at Cancer Research UK.