Charles Swanton, Group Leader at the Francis Crick Institute, is the 2016 recipient of the Biochemical Society's GlaxoSmithKline Award.
The award is given in recognition of research leading to new advances in medical science and is specifically intended to recognize mid-career biochemists who completed their PhD less than 20 years ago.
Charles' research focuses on the clinical implications of tumour heterogeneity and cancer evolution. His research has demonstrated that the principles of Darwinian evolution apply to the growth and adaptation of human tumours. This understanding of cancer evolution has led to new insights which may be exploited for therapeutic benefit.
Commenting on the award Charles said: "This prize is a testament to the amazing people who have worked so hard both in and with my laboratory over the last eight years. I am incredibly lucky to work with such a motivated team in this exciting field of cancer medicine."
As well as being a Group Leader at the Crick, Charles is also Chair in Personalised Cancer Medicine at the UCL Cancer Institute, Consultant Thoracic Medical Oncologist at UCL Hospitals, Chief Investigator of Cancer Research UK's TRACERx lung study, Royal Society Napier Research Professor, a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and a Fellow of the European Academy of Cancer Sciences.
The winner of the GlaxoSmithKline Award receives a glass sculpture, designed and produced by the sculptor Katharine Dowson, and a £2000 prize. On 17 November at Charles Darwin House, London, Charles was presented with his award, where he gave the 2016 GlaxoSmithKline Award Lecture, titled 'Cancer Diversity and Evolution'.
