Professor Mariam Jamal-Hanjani took over as the new chief clinician at Cancer Research UK on October 6, 2026, succeeding Professor Charles Swanton.
Professor Jamal-Hanjani is a thoracic medical oncologist and professor of cancer genomics and metastasis at the University College London Cancer Institute. She steps into the role as the organization’s senior clinical research adviser. In her new capacity, she will help steer the charity’s clinical priorities and guide research to address questions most relevant to patients.
Professor Jamal-Hanjani emphasized the unique strengths of the United Kingdom’s healthcare system in bridging scientific work and patient care.
Tracking Tumor Evolution Through TRACERx and PEACE
The newly appointed chief clinician brings extensive research experience centered on how tumors evolve, spread, and develop treatment resistance over time. Her scientific background includes leading roles in major investigative efforts that have reshaped the understanding of cancer progression.
UCL Professor Mariam Jamal-Hanjani Appointed Cancer Research UK’s New Chief Clinician@ucl https://t.co/oksymoqewu pic.twitter.com/rqhT1MzgPs
She has played a leading part in TRACERx, recognized as one of the world’s most comprehensive studies examining lung cancer evolution. By analyzing different sections of tumors from diagnosis onward, the initiative helps researchers track how individual cancers adapt and identifies opportunities for earlier intervention.
Beyond TRACERx, she led the PEACE study, a national program relying on tissue samples donated by patients with advanced cancer after their death. That work provides researchers with rare insights into the final stages of the disease and how it overcomes therapy.
Honoring Scientific Achievement and Collaborative Grants
She has received accolades such as the International Lung Cancer Foundation’s Investigator Award for Europe, the Cancer Research UK Translational Cancer Research Prize, the Sir David Cooksey Prize in Translation, the Association of Cancer Physicians’ McElwain Prize, and the Royal Society of Medicine’s Sylvia Lawler Scientific Prize.
She is widely acknowledged for her impactful work in science.
She was recently part of an international team awarded nearly €12 million through a European Research Council Synergy Grant to investigate cancer evolution mechanisms.
She serves as a co-investigator in Cancer Grand Challenges teams such as CANCAN, which studies severe cancer-related weight and muscle loss.
Professor Mariam Jamal-Hanjani has been appointed Chief Clinician at Cancer Research UK, taking on a leading role in shaping the charity’s clinical research and efforts to improve cancer treatment.She is a Professor of Cancer Genomics and Metastasis at University College London… pic.twitter.com/OnyZtda58f
She serves as a co-investigator in eDyNAmiC, which examines the role of extrachromosomal DNA in tumor growth and drug resistance.
Managing Leadership Transition at Cancer Research UK
Professor Jamal-Hanjani succeeds Professor Charles Swanton, who held the chief clinician position from 2017 until the October 2026 transition. Reflecting on the handover, Professor Charles Swanton praised his successor's background in medical oncology and her deep familiarity with UK clinical training.
She brings a thorough grasp of the British medical training framework alongside vast possibilities for universities, research centers, and the NHS to join forces in accelerating cancer discoveries.
She blends clinical expertise with investigative skill.
Cancer Research UK Chief Executive Michelle Mitchell noted that the appointment comes during an era of rapid technological change.
Her extensive expertise and commitment to patient care will be instrumental as the organization seeks to translate scientific discoveries into tangible improvements for those battling the disease.
