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 accelerate breakthroughs in cancer treatment. Operating at the forefront of modern oncology, Professor Jamal-Hanjani brings a wealth of academic excellence, clinical expertise, and pioneering research experience to the position, which she assumed in October 2026.
As a renowned Professor of Cancer Genomics and Metastasis at University College London (UCL), Professor Jamal-Hanjani has earned international acclaim for her groundbreaking investigations into the complex mechanisms of cancer evolution. Her scientific work primarily focuses on understanding how tumours adapt, spread throughout the body, and ultimately develop resistance to conventional therapies. By examining these intricate biological processes, her research aims to provide the medical community with the insights needed to design more precise, targeted treatments that can significantly improve survival rates and long-term outcomes for patients facing challenging diagnoses.
Her extensive academic portfolio includes leading major, high-impact studies investigating lung cancer. These studies have been instrumental in helping scientists map out how tumours change and mutate over time, shedding light on the underlying factors that cause certain cancers to become refractory to standard medical interventions. This foundational understanding is widely viewed by the scientific community as a crucial stepping stone toward personalized medicine, where treatments can be dynamically tailored to the specific genetic makeup of an individual patient’s tumour.
The leadership transition has drawn praise from key figures across the scientific and philanthropic sectors. Michelle Mitchell, the Chief Executive of Cancer Research UK, welcomed Professor Jamal-Hanjani to the role by highlighting her exceptional track record in guiding high-performing research teams.
Reflecting on the appointment, Michelle Mitchell stated that Professor Jamal-Hanjani brings deep experience in leading teams that deliver radical new insights into how cancer changes as it grows, spreads, resists treatment, and sometimes returns. This level of expertise is considered vital for the charity as it continues to fund and coordinate world-class clinical trials and translational research across the United Kingdom.
Expressing her enthusiasm for the new position, Professor Jamal-Hanjani emphasized the profound responsibility and privilege of taking on the role. She noted that Cancer Research UK holds an extraordinary track record of transforming laboratory discoveries into tangible, real-world benefits for patients, and she looks forward to helping shape and guide that ongoing mission.
Furthermore, Professor Jamal-Hanjani underscored the importance of accelerating the translation of scientific research into better clinical outcomes. She pointed to the National Health Service (NHS) as a foundational asset that uniquely positions the UK to bridge the gap between cutting-edge scientific discoveries and the patients who stand to benefit from them most. By leveraging the infrastructure of the NHS, clinical researchers can more effectively deliver innovative therapies directly to clinical settings.
Professor Jamal-Hanjani succeeds Professor Charles Swanton, a distinguished oncologist who held the position of Chief Clinician at Cancer Research UK since 2017. During his tenure, Professor Swanton played a pivotal role in advancing the charity’s clinical research initiatives and guiding its strategic scientific direction. Professor Jamal-Hanjani’s assumption of the role marks the beginning of a new chapter for the organization as it continues its ongoing efforts to combat cancer through advanced genomics, innovative clinical trials, and enhanced patient care strategies.