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 prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.
An internationally recognized authority in oncology, Professor Jamal-Hanjani serves as a Professor of Cancer Genomics and Metastasis at University College London (UCL). Her academic and clinical career has been defined by groundbreaking investigations into how cancer evolves, spreads throughout the human body, and develops resistance to conventional medical therapies. By decoding the complex mechanisms that drive tumor progression, her work provides vital insights that help scientists understand why certain cancers adapt, become harder to treat, or eventually recur. These insights are considered instrumental in paving the way for the development of more precise, targeted treatments capable of delivering significantly better outcomes for patients facing challenging prognoses.
The appointment marks an important transition for Cancer Research UK, the world’s leading independent cancer charity dedicated to saving lives through research. Michelle Mitchell, Chief Executive of Cancer Research UK, warmly welcomed Professor Jamal-Hanjani to her new position, highlighting the exceptional caliber of her professional background and her proven ability to drive complex scientific initiatives forward.
"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 said, emphasizing the vital role that innovative clinical research plays in the charity’s overarching mission to beat cancer sooner.
Reflecting on her new responsibilities, Professor Jamal-Hanjani expressed a deep sense of honor and responsibility regarding her appointment, noting the profound impact that the charity has historically had on the landscape of modern oncology.
"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 stated.
Looking ahead at the strategic direction of her tenure, she emphasized the critical importance of accelerating the translation of laboratory discoveries into tangible benefits for patients across the healthcare system. In doing so, she specifically underscored the National Health Service (NHS) as a cornerstone asset capable of bridging the gap between cutting-edge scientific innovation and direct patient care. By fostering closer integration between clinical research and frontline healthcare delivery, the goal remains to ensure that breakthroughs achieved in research settings rapidly translate into improved diagnostic tools and therapeutic options for individuals diagnosed with cancer.
Professor Jamal-Hanjani officially assumed her new role in October 2026. She succeeds Professor Charles Swanton, a distinguished clinician and researcher who held the position of Chief Clinician since 2017, guiding the charity through a period of substantial advancement in personalized medicine and tumor profiling.
Source: Cancer Research UK