Ken Mandal

Simon Leedham

Simon Leedham is Professor of Molecular and Population Genetics University of Oxford and an Honorary Consultant Gastroenterologist at the John Radcliffe Hospital. His research is into the morphogenic signalling pathways that control the intestinal stem cell in homeostasis, regeneration and cancer, and he has published more than 90 peer reviewed papers in journals that include Nature Medicine, Nature Genetics, Cell Stem Cell, Gastroenterology and Gut. Simon’s research has been recognised by the United European Gastroenterology Rising Star award in 2010, the British Society of Gastroenterology Francis Avery Jones research prize in 2015 and the CRUK future leaders prize in 2017. Simon’s clinical work involves the care of patients with familial predisposition towards gastrointestinal cancer and he is Associate Director of the Oxford Centre for Cancer Early Detection.

Rik Bryan

Rik Bryan is the Director of The Bladder Cancer Research Centre at the University of Birmingham and Professor in Urothelial Cancer Research. He is a former clinical urologist who became a full-time bladder cancer research academic in 2009, subsequently establishing a dedicated bladder cancer research laboratory group at the University of Birmingham. Initially focusing on urinary biomarkers and proteomics, the team expanded to incorporate genomics & bioinformatics, novel therapeutics, and bio-medical engineering, all within an ethos of translation and clinical research.

Jill Walker

Jill is an experienced Scientist (BSc, PHD) with over 20yr experience in Oncology Pharma. As the current Head of Early-Stage Disease Diagnostics, Jill has a key role in delivering the AZ strategy to intercept disease early using novel technologies as the next generation of diagnostics. Building on her experience devising and leading the AZ IO and ADC Diagnostic strategies Jill has first-hand, practical experience of working in all stage of clinical development, building innovative regulatory strategies to secure drug and diagnostic approval and establishing effective Cross-Industry collaborations to meet the needs of patients living with Cancer.

Dr Gwen Murphy

Dr Gwen Murphy earned a PhD in Clinical Medicine from Trinity College Dublin, Ireland, in 2005, and a Masters in Public Health from University College Dublin in 2006. Dr Murphy joined DCEG as an NCI Cancer Prevention Fellow within the Infections and Immunoepidemiology Branch in 2006, where she worked with Dr Charles Rabkin to initiate the NCI International EBV-Gastric Cancer Consortium. During her fellowship she also collaborated with Dr Amanda Cross on a suite of molecular epidemiology studies within the Polyp Prevention Trial. In 2009, Dr Murphy moved to the Nutritional Epidemiology Branch as a Research Fellow, becoming a Staff Scientist in 2012. 

Ashley Eater

Ashley Eater is Head of Business Development and Partnerships, Global Oncology Diagnostics at AstraZeneca, where he leads a team creating partnerships with diagnostic and related companies to increase patient access to oncology medicines worldwide. He recently co-led development of AstraZeneca’s in-market strategy for early detection and screening and is excited about opportunities to improve early detection in underserved tumour types, use of multi-cancer early detection, and strengthening screening in emerging markets and through broad collaboration. Previously Ashley worked in companion diagnostic marketing, development, and in scientific consulting. He has a PhD from the University of Cambridge in Molecular Biology and sits on the board of the Precision Cancer Consortium.