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 background in oncology, molecular biology, and clinical practice to her new post, Professor Jamal-Hanjani is widely recognized for her pioneering contributions to the understanding of cancer genomics. She serves as a Professor of Cancer Genomics and Metastasis at University College London (UCL), where her academic and laboratory work focuses heavily on the complex biological mechanisms governing how cancer evolves, spreads throughout the body, and develops resistance to conventional and advanced treatments.
Throughout her distinguished career, Professor Jamal-Hanjani has been at the forefront of major clinical and scientific investigations, most notably in the field of lung cancer. Her research has provided the scientific community with critical insights into how tumors change over time, mutate dynamically, and outsmart therapeutic interventions. By unraveling the fundamental reasons why certain cancers become increasingly difficult to treat as they progress, her work aims to lay the crucial groundwork for the development of highly targeted therapies, novel treatment protocols, and ultimately, significantly better survival outcomes for cancer patients worldwide.
The leadership transition has drawn high praise from across the medical and charitable sectors. Michelle Mitchell, Chief Executive of Cancer Research UK, warmly welcomed Professor Jamal-Hanjani to the role, emphasizing the immense value and depth of expertise she brings to the organization’s executive and scientific leadership teams.
Reflecting on the appointment, Michelle Mitchell noted that Professor Jamal-Hanjani brings a profound depth of experience in leading high-performing, multidisciplinary research teams. She highlighted that these teams have continuously delivered radical new insights into the notoriously complex ways cancer grows, spreads across organs, resists treatment, and regrettably recurs in patients, making her an ideal candidate to guide the charity’s future clinical direction.
Expressing her own thoughts on taking on the prestigious position, Professor Jamal-Hanjani spoke about the profound responsibility and honor of leading the charity’s clinical initiatives. She stated that Cancer Research UK possesses an extraordinary, proven track record of translating complex scientific discoveries from the laboratory into tangible, real-world benefits for patients undergoing treatment. She added that the opportunity to help shape and drive that vital mission forward is a privilege she is deeply eager to embrace.
Looking ahead at her strategic priorities for the role, Professor Jamal-Hanjani emphasized her strong commitment to accelerating the translation of cutting-edge research findings into improved clinical outcomes for individuals facing a cancer diagnosis. In doing so, she specifically underscored the vital role of the National Health Service (NHS) as a cornerstone and major asset in connecting innovative scientific discoveries directly with patients on the ground, facilitating smoother pathways from clinical trials to everyday medical care.
Professor Jamal-Hanjani officially commenced her new responsibilities in October 2026. She succeeds Professor Charles Swanton, another leading luminary in oncology who successfully held the position of Chief Clinician at Cancer Research UK since 2017, leaving behind a robust legacy of impactful clinical research and scientific advancement.