
Research Interests
Molecular biology and genetics; tumor suppressor protein p53; signals that induce p53 and the functions of p53 that contribute to its ability to prevent cancer progression; TIGAR; cancer metabolism; translational research to find ways to reactivate p53 for cancer therapy.
Current Affiliations
Principal group leader, Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom.
Previous Positions
Chief scientist (2016-2022) and lead (2014-2016), CRUK Glasgow Cancer Centre; director, Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute (2002-2016); chief, Regulation of Cell Growth Laboratory, National Cancer Institute (1999-2002); interim director (1998-1999); laboratory director, molecular virology and carcinogenesis (1996-1998); and section head, molecular carcinogenesis (1995-1996), Frederick Cancer Research Development Center; associate member and honorary senior lecturer (1992-1995); assistant member (1987-1992); and head (1987-1995), Human Papillomavirus Group, Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research.
Education
PhD, genetics (1982), and BSc, genetics and microbiology (1978), University of London, London, United Kingdom.
Postdoctoral Training
Visiting fellow, Laboratory of Cellular Oncology, National Cancer Institute (1985-1987), Bethesda, Maryland; postdoctoral fellow, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Institute of Cancer Research (1981-1985), London, United Kingdom.
Selected AACR Service, Honors, and Awards
Member, Fellows of the AACR Academy Steering Committee (2018-2021); advisory editor, AACR Journal, Cancer Research (2018-present); elected fellow, Fellows of the AACR Academy (2017); member, Nominating Committee (2017-2019); member, AACR Award for Lifetime Achievement in Cancer Research Committee (2015-2016, 2021-2023); member, Board of Directors (2012-2015); member, Membership Development Task Force (2012-2014); cochair (2011-2012) and member (2010-2011), Annual Meeting Program Committee; steering committee member (2011-2013) and member (2006-2010), Council of Scientific Advisors; scientific editor, AACR Journal, Cancer Discovery (2011-present); member, Pediatric Cancer Working Group Steering Committee (2010-2013); member, Global Affairs Committee (2010-2013); member, Annual Meeting Education Committee (2006-2007); member, Kirk A. Landon-AACR Prize for Basic Cancer Research Committee (2006); member, Task Force on Aging and Cancer (2004-2007); member, Editorial Board, AACR Journal, Molecular Cancer Research (2002-present); member, AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics Scientific Review Committee (2002).
Selected Non-AACR Service, Honors, and Awards
Recipient, Sir Hans Krebs Medal, FEBS (2023); honoree, the Ashley Dunn Oration, Australia (2023); recipient, Pezcoller-Marina Larcher Fogazzaro-EACR Women in Cancer Research Award (2021); recipient, Sir David Cooksey Prize in Translation (2020); honoree, Annual Zubrod Memorial Distinguished Guest Lecturer (2020); recipient, the Clifford Prize for Cancer Research, Australia (2019); recipient, Sergio Lombroso Award, Weizmann Institute, Israel (2019); president, BACR (2019); honorary fellow, Association of Cancer Physicians (UK) (2019); recipient, Mike Price Gold Medal (2018); foreign associate, National Academy of Sciences (2018); recipient, STS Honorary Medal (2018); recipient, the 2018 CDD Award (2018); foreign honorary member, American Academy of Arts and Sciences (2016); honorary fellow, Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons (2016); recipient, Outstanding Woman of Scotland (2016); elected member, EMBO Council (2015-2017); elected fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science (2013); elected member, Academia Europaea (2013); recipient, Career Award for Excellence in Cell Death Research, European Cell Death Organization (2012); recipient, Commander of the British Empire (Services to Clinical Science) (2010); elected fellow, European Academy of Cancer Sciences (2009); recipient, Royal Medal, Royal Society of Edinburgh (2009); elected fellow, Academy of Medical Sciences (2006); elected member, European Molecular Biology Organization (2004); elected fellow, Royal Society of Edinburgh (2004); elected fellow, Royal Society of London (2003); recipient, MERIT Award, National Institutes of Health (2001); recipient, Tenovus Gold Medal for Contributions to the Field of Gene Expression, Scotland (1998).