We are sad to announce that NCRI’s Director, Dr Karen Kennedy, will be leaving the organisation at the end of June.
Recruitment for Karen’s replacement is currently underway.
Karen joined the NCRI as Director in October 2013.
Under Karen’s leadership NCRI has gone from strength to strength; driving key collaborations that make progress in cancer research possible. The organisation has recently secured a further three years of funding for its flagship collaborative initiative in radiotherapy, CTRad, which since its launch in 2009 has helped to reinvigorate the UK radiotherapy research community, transforming this crucial research area from a state of crisis, to a hive of research activity and promise. They have also launched two more collaborative initiatives in the last two years; the living with and beyond cancer initiative, which is working to boost research in an area that has a historically low level of research activity, and a pathology initiative, to build a stronger base of people and resources for the UK to undertake pathology research.
Shortly after joining the NCRI, Karen led a pivotal piece of work to strengthen the Partnership through formalisation of its governance structure. This was completed in early 2015 and the organisation now has a more strategically focused board of trustees and a working model that enables Partners and key stakeholders to focus on NCRI’s collaborative activities and drive progress forward.
In 2016 NCRI welcomed Pancreatic Cancer Research Fund as a new Partner. This was followed by Brain Tumour Research in 2017. In the same year, the organisation also published its ambitious new five year strategy which was launched at a successful event in the House of Lords.
NCRI Chair Delyth Morgan said: “Karen has been a fantastic Director who has led the NCRI with great commitment, strategic insight and skill in navigating the diverse perspectives that makes the NCRI such a successful partnership and driver of long-term progress in cancer research. After four and a half years she leaves with the trustees grateful thanks and very best wishes for the future. “
“NCRI is at an exciting stage in its long and prestigious journey, with our five year strategy, the support of an expert Executive, board of trustees, Partners and members of the cancer research community I look forward to continuing our work towards our purpose of improving health and quality of life by accelerating progress in cancer-related research, through collaboration”
Karen is moving to a new role as Director of a new Strategic Partnerships Office at the University of Cambridge. She said: “I believe passionately in the role that NCRI plays and it has been a privilege to lead the NCRI Executive over the past four and a half years. I have no doubt that the Partnership will continue to accelerate cancer research through collaboration. I would like to say thank you to all the fantastic Partners, members of the cancer research community and the patient representatives that I have worked alongside – it has been a pleasure to work in partnership with you through the NCRI.”
Gatenby Sanderson have been appointed to assist NCRI trustees in the recruitment of a new Director for NCRI. Details of the role and application process are available on their website.