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.
Bringing an impressive academic and clinical background to the position, 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 and medical communities as a leading expert specializing in how cancer evolves, spreads throughout the body, and develops resistance to conventional medical treatments.
Her pioneering scientific work has largely centered around major, complex studies investigating lung cancer. Through this extensive research, she has helped scientists gain a much deeper, more nuanced understanding of how tumors change over extended periods and why certain types of cancer eventually become significantly harder to treat. Experts believe that the insights generated by her research could pave the way for the development of more highly targeted therapies, ultimately leading to better prognostic outcomes and higher survival rates for cancer patients worldwide.
The appointment has been met with widespread enthusiasm from the leadership at Cancer Research UK. Michelle Mitchell, the chief executive of the organization, praised Professor Jamal-Hanjani’s exceptional professional background and her proven track record in driving forward critical oncological research.
"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," Michelle Mitchell stated, highlighting the immense value the new Chief Clinician brings to the organization’s ongoing mission against the disease.
Reflecting on her new responsibilities and the broader mission of the charity, Professor Jamal-Hanjani shared her perspective on taking up the prestigious post.
"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 said.
She further emphasized her core objectives for the role, noting a strong desire to accelerate the translation of laboratory-based scientific research into tangible, life-saving cancer treatments. In discussing how these discoveries can effectively reach the public, she highlighted the National Health Service (NHS) as a vital and major asset capable of bridging the gap between cutting-edge scientific innovations and the patients who urgently need them.
Professor Jamal-Hanjani officially commenced her duties as Chief Clinician in October 2026. In taking on the role, she succeeds Professor Charles Swanton, a renowned oncologist and researcher who had successfully held the position since 2017, guiding the charity through numerous advancements in clinical research and trial methodologies during his tenure.