Professor Mariam Jamal-Hanjani has been officially appointed as the new Chief Clinician at Cancer Research UK, marking a significant leadership transition for the world’s leading independent cancer charity. In her new role, Professor Jamal-Hanjani will take on a pivotal responsibility in shaping the organization’s overarching clinical research strategy, guiding ongoing scientific efforts, and spearheading initiatives designed to improve cancer treatment and patient care across the United Kingdom and beyond.
An internationally recognized researcher and clinician, Professor Jamal-Hanjani brings a wealth of expertise to the position. Alongside her new responsibilities at Cancer Research UK, she serves as a Professor of Cancer Genomics and Metastasis at University College London (UCL). Her academic and clinical career has been defined by a deep dedication to understanding the complex mechanisms of cancer evolution, how tumours spread throughout the body, and the ways in which malignancies develop resistance to standard and advanced therapies.
Her pioneering scientific work includes leading major, high-impact studies investigating lung cancer. These comprehensive research efforts have helped scientists around the world gain critical insights into how tumors change and mutate over time, as well as why certain types of cancer become increasingly difficult to treat as the disease progresses. By unraveling these intricate biological processes, her research aims to pave the way for the development of more precise, targeted treatments that can ultimately lead to significantly better survival rates and clinical outcomes for patients facing a cancer diagnosis.
The appointment has drawn widespread praise from leadership across the scientific and medical research communities. Michelle Mitchell, Chief Executive of Cancer Research UK, welcomed Professor Jamal-Hanjani to the role by highlighting her extensive background in driving forward-thinking clinical investigations.
"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 immense value that Professor Jamal-Hanjani’s expertise will bring to the charity’s ongoing mission.
Reflecting on her new appointment, Professor Jamal-Hanjani expressed both enthusiasm and a profound sense of responsibility regarding her new position within the organization.
"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.
She further emphasized her core strategic priorities in the role, noting an urgent need to accelerate the translation of laboratory research into tangible, life-saving cancer treatments. In discussing the pathway from discovery to patient care, she highlighted the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) as a vital asset capable of bridging the gap between cutting-edge scientific innovations and the individuals who need them most.
Professor Jamal-Hanjani formally assumed her new responsibilities in October 2026. In stepping into the role of Chief Clinician, she succeeds Professor Charles Swanton, a distinguished oncologist and researcher who had held the position since 2017, guiding the charity through a transformative period of clinical discovery and research advancement.