Our research in London
We support over 40 research groups at our London Research Institute (LRI), in two locations:
- Lincoln's Inn Fields Laboratories in Central London
- Clare Hall Laboratories at South Mimms in Hertfordshire
The LRI specialises in research to understand how normal cells in the body become cancers. This knowledge will provide the foundation for developing new and more effective ways of preventing and treating the disease.
University College London, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry and Imperial College are home to three of our Cancer Research UK Centres. The Centres will increase the pace of research and improve the lives of people with cancer across London.
Researchers at the UCL Centre are focusing on brain tumours, ovarian, lung and blood cancers. The Barts Centre also concentrates on blood cancers such as leukaemia, as well as men's and women's cancers including cervical and testicular cancer. Researchers at the Imperial Centre have a particular interest in breast, bowel and prostate cancer. You can find out more about the London Centres on our website.
Cancer Research UK also provides substantial funding to The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR), one of the world's leading cancer research organisations. The ICR works in partnership with the Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust and has two sites, the Chester Beatty Laboratories in Chelsea and the Haddow Laboratories in Sutton.
Below are some of the highlights of our research in London.
On this page
All cancer types
Professor Ara Darzi
Division of Surgery
Imperial College, London
Saving more lives through surgery
Based at Imperial College, London, Professor Ara Darzi is one of the world’s leading surgeons and a pioneer of keyhole surgery. He is investigating robotic surgery and other techniques that will improve the outlook for cancer patients in London and across the UK.
Bladder cancer
Prof Peter Hoskin
Marie Curie Research Wing for Oncology
Mount Vernon Hospital, Northwood
New ways of using radiotherapy
Professor Peter Hoskin is leading a number of clinical trials looking at ways of using radiotherapy in combination with drugs to treat various types of cancer including lymphoma and bladder cancer. He is also testing the ability of radiotherapy to relieve severe symptoms such as bone pain that occur when cancers spread.
Professor John Kelly
UCL Medical School
University College London, London
Better treatments for bladder cancer
Professor John Kelly is an expert surgeon and bladder cancer researcher based at University College London. He is investigating new and better ways to treat the disease through drugs and surgery.
Bowel cancer
Prof Wendy Atkin
Cancer Research UK Colorectal Cancer Unit
Imperial College, London
Detecting and preventing bowel cancer
Professor Wendy Atkin, based at Imperial College in London, is a prominent bowel cancer researcher. Her research focuses on preventing the disease and detecting it early.
Prof Jack Cuzick
Cancer Research UK Centre for Epidemiology, Mathematics and Statistics
Wolfson Institute, Barts and The London, Queen Mary's School of Medicine and Dentistry, London
Cancer prevention and screening
Professor Jack Cuzick runs the internationally renowned Centre for Epidemiology, Mathematics and Statistics at the Wolfson Institute in London. The department carries out a huge range of research on many different cancer types, and is concerned with cancer prevention and screening, especially for breast, cervical and bowel cancers.
Prof Richard Houlston
Molecular and Population Genetics Team
The Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton
Genes and cancer
Professor Richard Houlston and his team are searching for cancer genes. They are carrying out large-scale studies of human populations to discover genetic faults that increase the risk of certain types of cancer including bowel, brain and lung. They are also searching for genes that influence a person's sensitivity to the effects of radiation.
Prof Peter Sasieni
Biostatistics and Cancer Epidemiology Group
Wolfson Institute, Barts and The London, Queen Mary's School of Medicine and Dentistry, London
Improving cancer screening
Professor Peter Sasieni is a respected researcher in the field of cancer screening. Based at the Wolfson Institute in London, he is helping to ensure that existing NHS cervical screening programme runs as efficiently as possible. He is also working to improve bowel screening for people at high risk of the disease. And he is director of a new clinical trials unit specialising in cancer screening and prevention.
Brain tumours
Prof Richard Houlston
Molecular and Population Genetics Team
The Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton
Genes and cancer
Professor Richard Houlston and his team are searching for cancer genes. They are carrying out large-scale studies of human populations to discover genetic faults that increase the risk of certain types of cancer including bowel, brain and lung. They are also searching for genes that influence a person's sensitivity to the effects of radiation.
Dr Chris Jones
Paediatric Oncology
The Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton
Hitting cancer where it hurts: new ways to target childhood brain tumours
Dr Chris Jones at The Institute of Cancer Research in Sutton is investigating the faulty molecules found in a type of childhood brain tumour called glioblastoma. His aim is to understand the changes in the cancer cells that drive the growth of these tumours, and to find new drugs to treat them, saving more children's lives.
Dr Steven Pollard
UCL Cancer Institute
University College London, London
Studying stem cells in brain tumours
Dr Steven Pollard is at the forefront of research into brain tumours. His work focuses on the exciting new area of cancer stem cells. These specialised cells only make up a small proportion of the whole tumour but are believed to act as the driving force behind many cancers. Dr Pollard is investigating how cancer stem cells in the brain contribute to the development of brain tumours. He plans to use this information to find effective new ways to treat this disease.
Breast cancer
Prof Eric Aboagye
Department of Surgery & Cancer
Imperial College, London
Picture this: images of cancer
Professor Eric Aboagye is Director of the Imperial College London Comprehensive Cancer Imaging Centre, which has been set up with support from Cancer Research UK and other funding organisations. He is using sophisticated imaging techniques to tackle cancer.
Dr Simak Ali
Breast Cancer Research Group
Imperial College School of Medicine, London
Understanding breast cancer resistance to hormone treatments
Dr Simak Ali leads the Breast Cancer Research Group based at the Hammersmith Hospital. The team's research focuses on understanding how and why some breast cancers become resistant to hormone treatments such as tamoxifen and anastrozole.
Prof Alan Ashworth
Breakthrough Breast Cancer Research Centre
Institute of Cancer Research, London
Understanding the genes that increase breast cancer risk
Professor Alan Ashworth is Chief Executive of The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) and leads the Breakthrough Breast Cancer Gene Function team, which is studying how certain faulty genes can increase a person's risk of developing breast cancer. Thousands of women with a strong family history of breast cancer now benefit from research like this, which has enabled doctors to offer them tailored advice, screening and treatment.
Prof Judith Bliss
Clinical Trials and Statistics Unit
Institute of Cancer Research, London
Improving treatments for breast cancer patients
Professor Judith Bliss leads the Clinical Trials and Statistics Unit at the Institute of Cancer Research based in Sutton. Her team conducts clinical trials, which are vital for testing new ways of treating cancer. Professor Bliss is currently involved in a number of breast cancer trials, which aim to improve different aspects of breast cancer treatment.
Prof Charles Coombes
Department of Oncology
Imperial College School of Medicine, Hammersmith Hospital, London
Improving treatment for breast cancer
Professor Charles Coombes is director of the Department of Oncology and heads the Section of Cancer Cell Biology at Hammersmith Hospital. He is an outstanding scientist and Cancer Research UK has been funding his work for over twenty years. He and his team are leading the world with their research into new treatments for breast cancer.
Prof Jack Cuzick
Cancer Research UK Centre for Epidemiology, Mathematics and Statistics
Wolfson Institute, Barts and The London, Queen Mary's School of Medicine and Dentistry, London
Cancer prevention and screening
Professor Jack Cuzick runs the internationally renowned Centre for Epidemiology, Mathematics and Statistics at the Wolfson Institute in London. The department carries out a huge range of research on many different cancer types, and is concerned with cancer prevention and screening, especially for breast, cervical and bowel cancers.
Professor Ros Eeles
Section of Cancer Genetics
The Institute of Cancer Research, London
Studying prostate and breast cancer genes
Professor Ros Eeles at the Institute of Cancer Research in Sutton is studying prostate and breast cancer genetics. She is also involved in helping to evaluate the NHS breast screening programme, ensuring that the service continues to improve.
Prof Robert Leonard
Cancer Services and Clinical Haematology
Charing Cross Hospital, London
Preserving fertility in breast cancer patients
Professor Robert Leonard is researching ways to preserve the fertility of women who are given chemotherapy to treat their breast cancer.
Professor Peter Mortimer
Cardiac and Vascular Sciences
St George’s Hospital Medical School, London
Preventing the severe side effects of breast cancer treatment
Professor Peter Mortimer is based at St George’s Hospital Medical School in London, and is internationally renowned for his research and clinical expertise in the workings of the lymphatic system. He is uncovering the causes of arm swelling called lymphoedema, a common long-term side effect of treatment for breast cancer. His innovative research could lead to new and more effective ways to prevent or treat the problem, improving the quality of life for many breast cancer survivors in the future.
Prof Julian Peto
Non-communicable Disease Epidemiology Unit
London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London
Epidemiology, genes and cancer
Professor Julian Peto is the Chair of Epidemiology at The Institute of Cancer Research in Sutton, Surrey. His group conducts large population-based studies and genetic research into several cancers, including breast cancer, cervical cancer and mesothelioma.
Prof David Phillips
Section of Molecular Carcinogenesis
The Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton
Investigating cancer-causing molecules in our environment
Professor David Phillips and his team are investigating how certain chemicals in our environment influence cancer development. They are involved in several national and international collaborations and are renowned in this field. Their research will increase our understanding of how cancer develops, and will lead to better ways of preventing several cancers, including breast and lung cancer.
Prof Nazneen Rahman
Section of Cancer Genetics
The Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton
Searching for genes in breast and childhood cancers
Professor Nazneen Rahman is Professor of Human Genetics and Section Chair of Cancer Genetics at The Institute of Cancer Research. She leads two research teams who are making excellent progress identifying genes associated with an increased risk of breast and childhood cancers.
Prof Charles Swanton
Translational Cancer Therapeutics Laboratory
Cancer Research UK London Research Institute, London
Discovering why some breast cancers are resistant to treatment
Professor Charles Swanton is based at our London Research Institute and is finding out how some cancers become resistant to the drugs used to treat them. In particular, he is looking at why drugs known as taxanes are not always effective in women with breast cancer. Professor Swanton specialises in translational research – using his discoveries in drug resistance to develop new ways to effectively treat cancer.
Cervical cancer
Prof Jack Cuzick
Cancer Research UK Centre for Epidemiology, Mathematics and Statistics
Wolfson Institute, Barts and The London, Queen Mary's School of Medicine and Dentistry, London
Cancer prevention and screening
Professor Jack Cuzick runs the internationally renowned Centre for Epidemiology, Mathematics and Statistics at the Wolfson Institute in London. The department carries out a huge range of research on many different cancer types, and is concerned with cancer prevention and screening, especially for breast, cervical and bowel cancers.
Prof Julian Peto
Non-communicable Disease Epidemiology Unit
London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London
Epidemiology, genes and cancer
Professor Julian Peto is the Chair of Epidemiology at The Institute of Cancer Research in Sutton, Surrey. His group conducts large population-based studies and genetic research into several cancers, including breast cancer, cervical cancer and mesothelioma.
Prof Peter Sasieni
Biostatistics and Cancer Epidemiology Group
Wolfson Institute, Barts and The London, Queen Mary's School of Medicine and Dentistry, London
Improving cancer screening
Professor Peter Sasieni is a respected researcher in the field of cancer screening. Based at the Wolfson Institute in London, he is helping to ensure that existing NHS cervical screening programme runs as efficiently as possible. He is also working to improve bowel screening for people at high risk of the disease. And he is director of a new clinical trials unit specialising in cancer screening and prevention.
Children's cancers
Dr Penelope Brock
Great Ormond Street Hospital
University College London Hospitals, London
Improving treatment for children with cancer
Dr Penelope Brock is a children’s cancer doctor who is researching ways to improve the outcome for her patients. Based at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London, she is co-ordinating international clinical trials to find better ways to treat children with the disease.
Dr Chris Jones
Paediatric Oncology
The Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton
Hitting cancer where it hurts: new ways to target childhood brain tumours
Dr Chris Jones at The Institute of Cancer Research in Sutton is investigating the faulty molecules found in a type of childhood brain tumour called glioblastoma. His aim is to understand the changes in the cancer cells that drive the growth of these tumours, and to find new drugs to treat them, saving more children's lives.
Prof Kathy Pritchard-Jones
Institute of Child Health
University College London, London
Investigating the genetics of children's cancer
Professor Kathy Pritchard-Jones is one of the UK's foremost experts in childhood cancer, and programme director for cancer at University College London (UCL). She and her team of dedicated scientists and clinicians are carrying out research at the Institute of Child Health - part of UCL. Their aim is to identify genetic faults that can lead to certain childhood cancers. This could help predict how well a child could respond to treatment, whether the cancer will return and how long a child will survive.
Prof Nazneen Rahman
Section of Cancer Genetics
The Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton
Searching for genes in breast and childhood cancers
Professor Nazneen Rahman is Professor of Human Genetics and Section Chair of Cancer Genetics at The Institute of Cancer Research. She leads two research teams who are making excellent progress identifying genes associated with an increased risk of breast and childhood cancers.
Dr Janet Shipley
Section of Molecular Carcinogenesis
The Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton
Studying faulty genes in childhood cancer
Dr Janet Shipley leads the Molecular Cytogenetics Team at The Institute of Cancer Research. She is investigating how faulty genes lead to the development of a type of childhood cancer called rhabdomyosarcoma. Some forms of this disease are very difficult to treat, so new approaches are urgently needed. Dr Shipley's research is revealing new targets for the development of drugs to improve the outcome for children with rhabdomyosarcoma.
Leukaemia
Dr Dominique Bonnet
Haematopoietic Stem Cell Laboratory
Cancer Research UK London Research Institute, London
Stem cells and leukaemia
Dr Dominique Bonnet and her team at our London Research Institute are looking for ways to improve treatments for leukaemia. They are exploring the role of special cells in the blood, known as haematopoietic stem cells.These fascinating cells can transform into many different types of mature blood cell, including red blood cells that carry oxygen and white blood cells that fight infection.
Dr Cristina Lo Celso
Department of Life Sciences
Imperial College, London
Fighting for space – studying stem cells in leukaemia
Dr Cristina Lo Celso works in the Centre for Regenerative Medicine at Imperial College London. She is studying the rogue cells that lie at the heart of leukaemia, with the aim of developing more effective, kinder treatments in the future.
Prof Kathy Pritchard-Jones
Institute of Child Health
University College London, London
Investigating the genetics of children's cancer
Professor Kathy Pritchard-Jones is one of the UK's foremost experts in childhood cancer, and programme director for cancer at University College London (UCL). She and her team of dedicated scientists and clinicians are carrying out research at the Institute of Child Health - part of UCL. Their aim is to identify genetic faults that can lead to certain childhood cancers. This could help predict how well a child could respond to treatment, whether the cancer will return and how long a child will survive.
Prof Bryan Young
Medical Oncology Laboratory
Barts & the London School of Medicine & Dentistry, London
Investigating faulty genes that cause leukaemia
Professor Bryan Young is studying the faulty genes and molecules that lead to leukaemia, a cancer of the white blood cells. His research focuses on acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), the commonest leukaemia in adults.
Lung cancer
Prof Richard Houlston
Molecular and Population Genetics Team
The Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton
Genes and cancer
Professor Richard Houlston and his team are searching for cancer genes. They are carrying out large-scale studies of human populations to discover genetic faults that increase the risk of certain types of cancer including bowel, brain and lung. They are also searching for genes that influence a person's sensitivity to the effects of radiation.
Prof David Phillips
Section of Molecular Carcinogenesis
The Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton
Investigating cancer-causing molecules in our environment
Professor David Phillips and his team are investigating how certain chemicals in our environment influence cancer development. They are involved in several national and international collaborations and are renowned in this field. Their research will increase our understanding of how cancer develops, and will lead to better ways of preventing several cancers, including breast and lung cancer.
Prof Michael Seckl
Department of Medical Oncology
Hammersmith and Charing Cross Hospitals, London
Understanding and improving drug resistance in lung cancer patients
World-class scientist Professor Michael Seckl works at the Hammersmith and Charing Cross Hospitals, part of Imperial College London. He is leading a clinical trial called LungStar, for people with small cell lung cancer (SCLC). He is also investigating how some lung cancers become resistant to chemotherapy. Professor Seckl co-ordinates lab studies into the disease and uses his findings to improve treatments for patients.
Prof Robert West
Department of Epidemiology and Public Health
University College London, London
Helping people to quit smoking
Professor Robert West is Director of Tobacco Studies at the Cancer Research UK Health Behaviour Research Centre. He analyses smoking trends in the population to find out how many people smoke and how many are giving up. Smoking is a major cause of many different types of cancer, including lung cancer and oesophageal cancer. Professor West's research could have a dramatic impact on the number of cancer cases in the future and help to save even more lives.
Mesothelioma
Prof Julian Peto
Non-communicable Disease Epidemiology Unit
London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London
Epidemiology, genes and cancer
Professor Julian Peto is the Chair of Epidemiology at The Institute of Cancer Research in Sutton, Surrey. His group conducts large population-based studies and genetic research into several cancers, including breast cancer, cervical cancer and mesothelioma.
Myeloma
Prof Gareth Morgan
Molecular Haematology
The Institute for Cancer Research, Sutton
Improving treatment for multiple myeloma
Professor Gareth Morgan, based at The Institute of Cancer Research, is a renowned expert in multiple myeloma. This type of cancer starts from a particular type of immune cell found in the bone marrow, called a plasma cell.
No specific cancer type
Dr Facundo Batista
Lymphocyte Interaction Laboratory
London Research Institute, London
Investigating immune cells in cancer
Dr Facundo Batista's Lymphocyte Interaction Laboratory is based at the Cancer Research UK London Research Institute. His research focuses on understanding how our immune system responds to infections and cancer.
Prof Richard Begent
Cancer Research UK Targeting and Imaging Group, Department of Oncology
UCL Cancer Institute, London
Developing and testing new treatments for cancer
Professor Richard Begent heads the Cancer Research UK Targeting and Imaging Group at the UCL Cancer Institute. He is currently working on new cancer treatments that are designed to specifically attack and kill the cancer cells while leaving healthy cells unharmed. Using this approach, Professor Begent hopes to develop effective new treatments with fewer side effects than existing drugs.
Dr Simon Boulton
DNA Damage Response Laboratory
London Research Institute, London
Understanding how cells repair DNA damage
Dr Simon Boulton leads the DNA Damage Response lab at our London Research Institute. Damage to DNA - our genetic code - is at the heart of cancer development. Dr Boulton is investigating how cells normally sense DNA damage and repair it accurately. This cutting-edge work is providing valuable insights into what goes wrong in cancer cells.
Prof Michel Coleman
Department of Epidemiology and Population Health
London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London
Understanding inequalities in cancer survival
Michel Coleman is Professor of Epidemiology and Vital Statistics at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. He is one of the world's leading experts in cancer statistics and his research focuses on trends in cancer occurrence and survival. His team produces the official National Statistics on cancer survival in England. He is investigating why there are persistent inequalities in cancer survival in the UK, for example between rich and poor people, and between the UK and other European countries.
Dr Julie Cooper
Telomere Biology Laboratory
London Research Institute, London
Tying up the loose ends of DNA
Dr Julie Cooper runs the Telomere Biology Laboratory at the Cancer Research UK London Research Institute. Her research focuses on 'telomeres', structures that cap the ends of chromosomes much like plastic caps on the ends of shoelaces.
Dr John Diffley
Chromosome Replication Laboratory
Cancer Research UK London Research Institute, London
Finding out how cells divide
Dr John Diffley is one of the world's leading experts in studying how cells grow and make copies of themselves. He is the Director of our London Research Institute Clare Hall Laboratories and heads the Chromosome Replication Laboratory.
Prof Julian Downward
Signal Transduction Laboratory
London Research Institute, London
Understanding how communication goes wrong in cancer cells
Professor Julian Downward leads the Signal Transduction Laboratory at our London Research Institute. He is studying genes and proteins within cancer cells to find out how communication pathways break down in cancer. This work is improving our understanding of what goes wrong in cancer and revealing new ways to treat the disease.
Professor Holger Gerhardt
Vascular Biology Laboratory
Cancer Research UK London Research Institute, London
Fixing the plumbing – studying tumour blood vessels
Dr Holger Gerhardt runs the Vascular Biology Laboratory at Cancer Research UK's London Research Institute. He and his team are investigating how blood vessels grow towards tumours, providing them with the oxygen and nutrients they need as fuel. Understanding how this ‘biological plumbing’ works - and how it can be shut down - is vital if we are to beat cancer.
Professor John Gribben
Centre for Experimental Cancer Medicine
Barts and the London School of Medicine, London
Pioneering the treatments of the future
Professor John Gribben is a doctor and researcher at Barts and the London Trust Cancer Centre. He and his team at the Barts Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre (ECMC) are developing and testing new ways to treat cancer.
Prof Ian Hart
Tumour Biology Laboratory
Barts and The London School of Medicine & Dentistry, London
Tackling cancer spread
Professor Ian Hart at Bart's and the London School of Medicine & Dentistry is studying how cancer cells spread around the body - a process called metastasis. Metastases or secondary tumours form when cancer cells spread to new sites and are the cause of most deaths from cancer. Understanding this process is critical if we are to develop more effective cancer treatments.
Dr Caroline Hill
Developmental Signalling Laboratory
Cancer Research UK London Research Institute, London
The two faces of TGF beta
Dr Caroline Hill heads the Developmental Signalling Laboratory at our London Research Institute. She is an expert on a group of molecules called growth factors – signals sent between cells that tell them when to multiply, and when to stop. If there are too many growth factor molecules – or if cells respond over-enthusiastically to them – cells can start to multiply out of control, leading to cancer.
Professor Kairbaan Hodivala-Dilke
Institute of Cancer
Barts & The London School of Medicine & Dentistry, London
Targeting blood vessel growth for cancer treatment
Professor Kairbaan Hodivala-Dilke is head of the Angiogenesis Laboratory in the Centre for Tumour Biology. She is studying how new blood vessels form, a process called angiogenesis. All cancers rely on new blood vessels to supply the tumour cells with essential nutrients and oxygen, so discovering different ways to block angiogenesis is the first step on the road to developing new cancer drugs.
Dr Nancy Hogg
Leukocyte adhesion laboratory
London Research Institute, London
How do cancers spread?
One of the things that makes cancer so difficult to treat is that it can spread to other parts of the body - this process is called metastasis. Dr Nancy Hogg and her team at our London Research Institute are studying metastasis using white blood cells, which are part of the immune system.
Prof Alan Horwich
Section of Radiotherapy
The Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton
Improving radiotherapy for treating cancer
Professor Alan Horwich is leading clinical research to improve radiotherapy and chemotherapy treatment for many types of cancer, focusing on breast, lung, bladder, testicular and prostate cancer as well as lymphoma.
Dr Tim Hunt
Cell Cycle Control Laboratory
Cancer Research UK London Research Institute, London
How do cells grow and divide?
Sir Tim Hunt joined Cancer Research UK in 1990, and the charity funded his research until he retired in 2011. His Nobel prize-winning work helped scientists to understand how cells copy themselves – a process that is at the heart of cancer, as well as being central to all life on Earth.
Prof Richard Marais
Section of Cell and Molecular Biology
Institute of Cancer Research, London
Cell signalling and melanoma skin cancer
Professor Richard Marais leads the Signal Transduction Team at The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR). He is an expert in the underlying causes of melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer. His team is looking at how cells communicate with one another and how faults in these messages can cause this disease, with a particular focus on the BRAF protein.
Prof Chris Marshall
Cancer Research UK Centre for Cell and Molecular Biology
The Institute of Cancer Research, London
How do cancer cells grow and spread?
Professor Chris Marshall is the Director of the Cancer Research UK Centre for Cell and Molecular Biology, which is at the forefront of UK research into the molecular causes of cancer. Professor Marshall leads the Oncogene Team, which is studying the communication pathways within cancer cells that determine how they behave. Central to his research are two groups of related proteins called 'Ras' and 'Rho'.
Dr Paul Nurse
Cell Cycle Laboratory
Cancer Research UK London Research Institute, London
The cell cycle: the foundation of cancer
Sir Paul Nurse is a pioneering scientist studying the cell cycle – the way that cells copy themselves. He heads the Cell Cycle Laboratory at our London Research Institute, and was awarded a Nobel Prize in 2001 for his groundbreaking work in this field. Today his research continues to shape our knowledge of how cells divide, the fundamental process at the heart of cancer.
Prof Peter Parker
Protein Phosphorylation Laboratory
Cancer Research UK London Research Institute, London
Deciphering the signals in cancer cells
Professor Peter Parker, based at our London Research Institute, is studying the signals that tell cells when to multiply or die. These signals are often faulty in cancer, causing cells to grow out of control.
Dr Mark Petronczki
Cell Division and Aneuploidy Laboratory
Cancer Research UK London Research Institute, London
Going separate ways – understanding how cells divide
Dr Mark Petronczki leads a research group at the Clare Hall laboratories, part of our London Research Institute. He is studying the mechanisms that control how cells divide in two, ensuring that each new cell receives the correct amount of DNA – its genetic instructions. If this process goes wrong, cells may get the wrong amount of DNA, which can lead to cancer.
Dr Erik Sahai
Tumour Cell Biology Laboratory
Cancer Research UK London Research Institute, London
Uncovering the secrets of cancer spread
Dr Erik Sahai is a dynamic young researcher who heads the Tumour Cell Biology Lab at our Cancer Research UK London Research Institute. He is an expert in how cancer spreads, also known as metastasis. Most deaths from cancer are caused by the disease spreading, so understanding the process is vital. Dr Sahai's groundbreaking research will open new doors to finding ways to stop cancer in its tracks and improve survival for patients.
Dr Almut Schulze
Gene Expression Analysis Laboratory
Cancer Research UK London Research Institute, London
Studying the signals at the heart of cancer
Dr Almut Schulze leads the Gene Expression Analysis lab at our London Research Institute. Her team is investigating how signalling inside cancer cells can change the way they behave. By unravelling the inner workings of cancer, her work is giving clues for new ways to tackle the disease.
Dr Caetano Reis e Sousa
Immunobiology Laboratory
London Research Institute, London
Investigating our immune system
Dr Caetano Reis e Sousa leads the Immunobiology Laboratory at our London Research Institute. His team is investigating how our immune system detects and responds to infection.
Dr Thomas Surrey
Microtubule Cytoskeleton Laboratory
Cancer Research UK London Research Institute, London
Understanding our cells' 'skeletons'
Dr Thomas Surrey is a world-class researcher at our London Research Institute. He is studying cells’ internal ‘skeletons’ to find new clues for how to treat cancer.
Dr Nic Tapon
Apoptosis and Proliferation Control Laboratory
London Research Institute, London
Studying the balance between life and death
Dr Nic Tapon leads a research group at our London Research Institute. He is studying the genes and proteins that control the growth and death of the cells that make up our bodies. A greater understanding of these key processes will highlight ways in which they might go wrong in cancer cells.
Professor David Thurston
The London School of Pharmacy
University of London, London
Discovering new cancer drugs
Finding new drugs is a crucial area of research in the fight to beat cancer. Professor David Thurston at the London School of Pharmacy is searching for molecules that block signals encouraging cancer cells to grow and spread. He hopes to discover new drugs with fewer side effects than conventional chemotherapies, improving survival and quality of life for people with cancer.
Dr Richard Treisman
Transcription Laboratory
London Research Institute, London
Cells behaving badly: how faulty signals can lead to cancer
Dr Richard Treisman is the Director of our London Research Institute, and is internationally recognised for his pioneering research into cell biology. He is unravelling the molecular signals that cause changes in cells, which can ultimately lead to cancer.
Dr Frank Uhlmann
Chromosome Segregation Lab
London Research Institute, London
Understanding how cells divide
Dr Frank Uhlmanm leads the Chromosome Segregation Lab at our London Research Institute. He is carrying out fundamental research to understand how cells divide into two.
Prof Jane Wardle
Cancer Research UK Health Behaviour Centre
University College London, London
Health behaviour and cancer risk
Professor Jane Wardle directs the Cancer Research UK Health Behaviour Centre at University College London and is a prominent researcher in the field of cancer prevention.
Dr Michael Way
Cell Motility Laboratory
Cancer Research UK London Research Institute, London
Understanding cancer spread: how do cells move?
Dr Michael Way is based at our London Research Institute. He is studying how cells move, to understand how cancer spreads. His work could help develop new treatments to combat this process in the future.
Prof Paul Workman
Cancer Research UK Centre for Cancer Therapeutics
The Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton
Developing targeted cancer treatments
Professor Paul Workman is one of the UK's leading experts in the discovery and development of new cancer drugs. He coordinates teams of chemists, biologists and pharmacologists to take new drugs through into clinical trials. He is Director of the Cancer Research UK Centre for Cancer Therapeutics at The Institute of Cancer Research, which provides researchers with the very latest technologies for drug discovery.
Ovarian cancer
Prof Eric Aboagye
Department of Surgery & Cancer
Imperial College, London
Picture this: images of cancer
Professor Eric Aboagye is Director of the Imperial College London Comprehensive Cancer Imaging Centre, which has been set up with support from Cancer Research UK and other funding organisations. He is using sophisticated imaging techniques to tackle cancer.
Prof Frances Balkwill
Institute of Cancer
Barts & The London School of Medicine & Dentistry, London
Developing new treatments for ovarian cancer
Professor Frances Balkwill leads the Centre for Cancer and Inflammation at Barts & The London School of Medicine & Dentistry. She is investigating the links between cancer and inflammation, with a particular focus on ovarian cancer. Professor Balkwill aims to use the results from her lab studies to develop new anti-cancer treatments, and her team is involved in several early-phase clinical trials.
Prof Robert Brown
Epigenetics Team
Imperial College London and The Institute of Cancer Research, London
'Epigenetics' and the problem of drug resistance
Professor Robert Brown is currently investigating how some cancers, in particular ovarian cancers, become resistant to chemotherapy. Through this work, he is developing important new ways to overcome this huge problem of drug resistance. Professor Brown leads two research teams based at Imperial College London and The Institute of Cancer Research.
Prof Hani Gabra
Section of Medicine, Department of Oncology
Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, London
Understanding drug resistance in ovarian cancer
Professor Hani Gabra is head of the Section of Molecular Therapeutics at Imperial College, London. His research focuses on ovarian cancer. He is currently investigating the genes and proteins that cause resistance to chemotherapy drugs such as carboplatin.
Prof Ian Jacobs
Department of Gynaecological Oncology
University College London, London
Screening for ovarian cancer
Professor Ian Jacobs and his team are testing ovarian cancer screening techniques to see which are most effective.
Prof Stan Kaye
Section of Medicine
The Institute of Cancer Research and the Royal Marsden Hospital, Sutton
Developing new cancer treatments
Professor Stan Kaye is Chairman of the Section of Medicine at The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR). He also leads the Drug Development Unit at the Royal Marsden Hospital. These two roles allow Professor Kaye to take new drugs discovered in the lab and test them in clinical trials in patients. In particular, his research focuses on ovarian cancer.
Prof Jonathan Ledermann
Cancer Research UK and UCL Cancer Trials Centre
University College London, London
Improving treatments for ovarian cancer
Professor Jonathan Ledermann is leading an international clinical trial of a new treatment for women with ovarian cancer. This disease often becomes resistant to chemotherapy, making it difficult to treat. The new drug could help to block blood vessel growth in the tumour, starving the cancer cells.
Prof Peter Sasieni
Biostatistics and Cancer Epidemiology Group
Wolfson Institute, Barts and The London, Queen Mary's School of Medicine and Dentistry, London
Improving cancer screening
Professor Peter Sasieni is a respected researcher in the field of cancer screening. Based at the Wolfson Institute in London, he is helping to ensure that existing NHS cervical screening programme runs as efficiently as possible. He is also working to improve bowel screening for people at high risk of the disease. And he is director of a new clinical trials unit specialising in cancer screening and prevention.
Pancreatic cancer
Dr Thorsten Hagemann
Centre for Cancer and Inflammation
Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, London
Reducing inflammation to treat pancreatic cancer
Dr Thorsten Hagemann is a Clinical Lecturer at the Centre for Cancer and Inflammation at Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry. He is investigating how cancer cells can cause inflammation, which protects them from being destroyed by the body's immune system. In particular, his research focuses on pancreatic cancer.
Prof Nick Lemoine
Centre for Molecular Oncology and Imaging
Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, London
Developing new ways to diagnose and treat cancer
Professor Nick Lemoine is the Director of the Institute of Cancer at Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry. He oversees a multi-million pound programme of research looking at new ways to diagnose and treat many types of cancer. Professor Lemoine is an international expert in pancreatic cancer and much of his work focuses on this disease.
Dr John Timms
Department of Gynaecological Oncology
University College London, London
Searching for better tests for pancreatic cancer
Pancreatic cancer is often diagnosed at an advanced stage, making it very difficult to treat. Dr John Timms heads the Cancer Proteomics group at University College London. His team is looking for biomarkers that could lead to better tests for the disease, and help doctors to detect it earlier.
Prostate cancer
Professor Ara Darzi
Division of Surgery
Imperial College, London
Saving more lives through surgery
Based at Imperial College, London, Professor Ara Darzi is one of the world’s leading surgeons and a pioneer of keyhole surgery. He is investigating robotic surgery and other techniques that will improve the outlook for cancer patients in London and across the UK.
Professor Ros Eeles
Section of Cancer Genetics
The Institute of Cancer Research, London
Studying prostate and breast cancer genes
Professor Ros Eeles at the Institute of Cancer Research in Sutton is studying prostate and breast cancer genetics. She is also involved in helping to evaluate the NHS breast screening programme, ensuring that the service continues to improve.
Prof Gareth Williams
Cancer Research UK Chromosomal Replication Research Group
Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research, University College London, London
Understanding how cells divide, and improving cancer treatment and detection
Based at the Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research in London, Professor Gareth Williams and his team are investigating how a group of proteins work together to allow DNA to be copied, a process called DNA replication. His research could also help to find new ways to diagnose cancers such as prostate and bladder cancer.
Skin cancer
Prof Richard Marais
Section of Cell and Molecular Biology
Institute of Cancer Research, London
Cell signalling and melanoma skin cancer
Professor Richard Marais leads the Signal Transduction Team at The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR). He is an expert in the underlying causes of melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer. His team is looking at how cells communicate with one another and how faults in these messages can cause this disease, with a particular focus on the BRAF protein.
Prof Fiona Watt
Centre for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Research
King's College London, London
Getting under the skin
Professor Fiona Watt is director of the Centre for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Research at King's College, where she is studying normal skin cells in order to understand what goes wrong in skin cancer. In particular, she is carrying out pioneering research into skin stem cells. These long-lived cells can multiply to produce many different types of skin cell and are believed to play a central role in the development of skin cancer.
Soft tissue sarcoma
Prof Chris Boshoff
Cancer Research UK Viral Oncology Group
UCL Cancer Institute, University College London, London
Understanding Kaposi's sarcoma
Professor Chris Boshoff is Director of the Cancer Research UK Viral Oncology Group based at the Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research at University College London. Professor Boshoff is a world leader in understanding how infection with a virus called Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpes virus (KSHV) is linked to a type of cancer called Kaposi sarcoma.
Prof Alison Lloyd
Laboratory for Molecular Cell Biology
University College London, London
Breaking the rules: how nerve-protecting cells grow out of control
Professor Alison Lloyd, based at University College London, is studying schwannoma - a cancer affecting Schwann cells, which surround and protect our nerve cells. Professor Lloyd and her team are finding out more about how Schwann cells grow out of control, leading to cancer.
Stomach cancer
Prof David Cunningham
Department of Medicine
The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, London
Improving treatments for stomach cancer
Professor David Cunningham and his team at the Royal Marsden Hospital carry out clinical trials to test new treatments for stomach cancer. They are currently testing a new anti-cancer drug that works by blocking the growth of new blood vessels, a process called angiogenesis.
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