Professor Mariam Jamal-Hanjani has been officially appointed as the new Chief Clinician at Cancer Research UK, stepping into a pivotal leadership role designed to steer the charity’s overarching clinical research agenda and spearhead new initiatives aimed at improving cancer diagnosis and treatment.
In her new capacity, Professor Jamal-Hanjani will play a fundamental role in shaping how the world’s leading independent cancer research charity approaches clinical investigations, patient care strategies, and the translation of laboratory breakthroughs into tangible medical solutions. Her appointment marks a significant transition for the organization, bringing her extensive expertise in oncology and genomics to the forefront of national and international cancer research efforts.
Beyond her new responsibilities with Cancer Research UK, Professor Jamal-Hanjani holds a prominent academic and clinical position as a Professor of Cancer Genomics and Metastasis at University College London (UCL). She is widely recognized within the global scientific community as an authority on how cancer evolves, spreads throughout the body, and develops resistance to conventional therapies. Her specialized research focuses heavily on understanding the complex mechanisms that drive tumor progression and metastasis, which remain among the most formidable challenges in modern oncology.
Her extensive portfolio of scientific work includes leading major, high-profile investigations into lung cancer, a disease that continues to claim a significant number of lives globally. Through these comprehensive studies, Professor Jamal-Hanjani and her research teams have helped the scientific and medical communities better understand the dynamic nature of tumors—specifically, how they mutate and change over time within a patient. Crucially, this research sheds light on why certain cancers eventually stop responding to existing treatments, paving the way for the development of more personalized, targeted therapies that can anticipate and overcome drug resistance. By deciphering the evolutionary patterns of cancer cells, her work holds the potential to vastly improve clinical outcomes and long-term survival rates for individuals diagnosed with the disease.
The leadership at Cancer Research UK has expressed immense enthusiasm regarding her appointment, emphasizing her proven track record of driving innovative research that bridges the gap between fundamental science and clinical application. Michelle Mitchell, Chief Executive of Cancer Research UK, praised Professor Jamal-Hanjani’s extensive background and her ability to lead high-achieving scientific teams in tackling some of the most complex questions in cancer biology.
Reflecting on the appointment, Michelle Mitchell noted that Professor Jamal-Hanjani brings deep experience in leading high-performing research teams that are actively delivering radical new insights into how cancer changes as it grows, spreads, resists treatment, and occasionally returns after a period of remission. This capability is considered vital for the charity as it seeks to accelerate progress against a wide range of cancer types and fulfill its strategic mission to save more lives through pioneering research.
Expressing her own thoughts on taking up the prestigious post, Professor Jamal-Hanjani spoke about the profound privilege of stepping into the role and contributing to the organization’s long-standing legacy. She noted that 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 she feels deeply privileged to take on.
Furthermore, Professor Jamal-Hanjani emphasized her core objective to accelerate the translation of cutting-edge research into tangible, better cancer outcomes for patients everywhere. In discussing the implementation of these advancements, she highlighted the UK’s National Health Service as a major, invaluable asset in seamlessly connecting groundbreaking scientific discoveries with the patients who need them most, leveraging the integrated nature of the healthcare system to test, validate, and deliver new treatments efficiently.
Professor Jamal-Hanjani officially commenced her duties as Chief Clinician in October 2026. In taking on the position, she succeeds Professor Charles Swanton, a renowned oncologist and researcher who held the Chief Clinician role with distinction since 2017, guiding the charity through numerous strategic advancements and high-impact research endeavors during his tenure.