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 national efforts to improve cancer treatment, diagnosis, and patient care.
Bringing an extensive and distinguished background in oncology, Professor Jamal-Hanjani currently 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 develops resistance to conventional medical therapies. Her pioneering academic and clinical work focuses heavily on major investigations into lung cancer, a notoriously difficult disease to treat. Through her research, she has helped scientists gain a much deeper, more nuanced understanding of how tumors change and mutate over time, as well as the underlying biological reasons why certain cancers eventually stop responding to treatment. Experts believe that these critical insights will help pave the way for the development of highly targeted therapies, ultimately leading to better clinical outcomes and increased survival rates for cancer patients.
The appointment has been met with widespread acclaim from leaders across the scientific and medical sectors. Michelle Mitchell, Chief Executive of Cancer Research UK, warmly praised Professor Jamal-Hanjani’s exceptional track record and her invaluable contributions to the field of oncology. Highlighting her qualifications for the demanding role, Mitchell noted that Professor Jamal-Hanjani brings a deep, hands-on understanding of what it takes to lead high-performing, multidisciplinary research teams. She emphasized that these teams are currently delivering radical new insights into the elusive ways cancer behaves—specifically how tumors grow, spread across organ systems, resist medical intervention, and occasionally return after remission.
Expressing her enthusiasm and sense of responsibility upon taking on the prestigious position, Professor Jamal-Hanjani reflected on the vital mission of the organization. She noted that Cancer Research UK possesses an extraordinary, proven track record of turning complex scientific discoveries made in laboratories into tangible, real-world benefits for patients suffering from the disease. She added that the unique opportunity to help guide and shape that ongoing mission is a responsibility she feels deeply privileged to take on. Furthermore, she emphasized her core objective to accelerate the translation of cutting-edge research into improved cancer outcomes, specifically pointing to the National Health Service (NHS) as a vital national asset. She noted that the NHS plays a crucial role in bridging the gap between innovative scientific discoveries and the everyday care delivered to patients across the country.
Professor Jamal-Hanjani officially stepped into her new role in October 2026. In taking on the position of Chief Clinician, she succeeds Professor Charles Swanton, a highly respected oncologist who had held the influential leadership post since 2017. Professor Swanton’s tenure was marked by significant advancements in understanding tumor evolution and heterogeneity, leaving behind a robust foundation for Professor Jamal-Hanjani to build upon as she charts the next chapter of clinical research for the charity.
Source: Cancer Research UK