Tell us a bit about yourself.
I am a lymphoma doc at the University of Southampton treating the whole spectrum of the lymphomas with the full range of therapeutic modalities. I also lead the Teenage and Young Adult service in the Wessex region and the Director of the Southampton NIHR/CRU Experimental Cancer Medicines Centre.
What is your research interest?
I am interested in all aspects of malignant lymphomas but particularly the development of novel therapeutics and translational biomarkers. I am lucky enough to lead a range of clinical trials from first in human to phase III. Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, the commonest of all the lymphomas in my main area of study. Although many patients are cured by conventional immunochemotherapy unfortunately patients are failed by this approach so there is much to be done to understand why patients develop relapsed or are refractory, how can prevent it with better therapies and also how to treat it better.
Why did you want to be involved in the Lymphoma group?
I have been involved in the lymphoma research group for many years and have previously been the chair of the High-Grade Lymphoma Sub-Group. It is great to be involved in the design and delivery of a wide range of studies across all the lymphoma disease areas and so work with such an enthusiastic and talented group of investigators from a range of disciplines all of whom are trying to improve the outcome for patient with lymphoma
What are most looking forward to as Chair of the Lymphoma Group?
Ensuring that we have a well-developed strategy for the Group over the coming years so that we may maximise our disease coverage and confirming the international importance of the work that we are doing for patient benefit. I would like us to foster greater collaboration with other NCRI groups and am really looking forward to working with such a dynamic group of people and it will be great to be working closely with the sub-group chairs and also Professor Graham Collins who is the Lymphoma Group new Deputy Chair.
Do you have a message for anyone who is interested in Lymphoma
Get in contact and come and join us. We are really keen to hear your ideas and look to develop these. Everyone is welcome