Charles Swanton is a clinician-scientist whose work focuses on understanding why metastatic cancers become resistant to treatment and are often incurable. He is Chair in Personalised Cancer Medicine at University College London and a Consultant Thoracic Medical Oncologist, combining patient care with laboratory and clinical research.
He is the Chief Investigator of the Cancer Research UK TRACERx study, a major clinical research program designed to track how lung cancer evolves over time, and Co-director of the CRUK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence. His research has provided important insights into how cancers develop genetic diversity within the same patient and how this diversity drives cancer progression and treatment failure. Charles is a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and the Academy of Medical Sciences, a recipient of the Royal Society Napier Professorship in Cancer, Cancer Research UK’s Chief Clinician, a Fellow of the Royal Society, and a Fellow of the Academy of the American Association for Cancer Research.
The 100 Most Influential People in Oncology in 2025 recognizes the changemakers in cancer care who have helped shape current practice in oncology and continue to drive innovation and research towards better outcomes, advocacy, philanthropy, leadership and education. For the many deserving individuals not mentioned in this list, we will continue to acknowledge, honor and elevate your voices in our daily publications from across the world.
See the full list of The 100 Influential People in Oncology in 2025 and stay tuned for the results of special category nominations to be announced.
