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 and patient care.
Bringing a wealth of academic and clinical expertise to the post, Professor Jamal-Hanjani serves concurrently as a Professor of Cancer Genomics and Metastasis at University College London (UCL). She is widely recognized on an international scale for her pioneering research specializing in the complex mechanisms of how cancer evolves, spreads throughout the body, and ultimately develops resistance to various forms of medical treatment.
Her extensive academic portfolio features major, high-impact studies investigating lung cancer, a field where her work has provided critical insights for the scientific community. By examining how tumors change over time and identifying the underlying biological reasons why certain cancers become increasingly difficult to treat, her research lays essential groundwork for the future of oncology. These scientific breakthroughs are expected to pave the way for the development of more precise, targeted treatments, which in turn hold the promise of significantly better long-term outcomes for patients facing a cancer diagnosis.
The appointment has drawn high praise from leadership within the prominent cancer research charity. Michelle Mitchell, Chief Executive of Cancer Research UK, welcomed Professor Jamal-Hanjani to her new position by highlighting her exceptional track record in leading collaborative, high-performing research teams.
Reflecting on the appointment, Michelle Mitchell noted that Professor Jamal-Hanjani brings deep experience in delivering radical new insights into the dynamic nature of cancer. She emphasized that understanding how cancer grows, spreads, resists treatment, and occasionally returns is one of the most pressing challenges in modern medicine, making the new Chief Clinician exceptionally well-suited to guide the charity’s future clinical direction.
Expressing her thoughts on taking on the prestigious role, Professor Jamal-Hanjani spoke of her profound sense of responsibility and honor. She noted that Cancer Research UK possesses an extraordinary, long-standing track record of translating complex scientific discoveries into tangible, real-world benefits for patients across the healthcare system. The opportunity to help shape and guide that vital mission moving forward, she explained, is something she feels deeply privileged to undertake.
Furthermore, Professor Jamal-Hanjani emphasized her core objective to accelerate the transition of cutting-edge research into superior cancer outcomes for those in need. In discussing how these innovations reach the bedside, she highlighted the National Health Service (NHS) as a major, invaluable asset. She pointed out that the NHS serves as a critical bridge, seamlessly connecting pioneering scientific discoveries with the everyday patients who stand to benefit from them most.
Professor Jamal-Hanjani officially commenced her new responsibilities in October 2026. In stepping into the role of Chief Clinician, she succeeds Professor Charles Swanton, a distinguished researcher who held the position with distinction since 2017, guiding the charity through a critical era of clinical advancements and genomic research initiatives.