Mark Lawler
Scientific Committee Member
What it (really) means?
Supporting ECPC’s work related to research projects and other activities involving the creation and dissemination of scientific information.
Background
Prof Mark Lawler, Associate Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Professor of Digital Health, and Chair in Translational Cancer Genomics, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences, Queen’s University Belfast (QUB). He is an internationally renowned scientist, with a strong commitment to patient-centred research/care and to addressing cancer inequalities. Mark has a particular interest in addressing cancer challenges in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) and he is now leading the Lancet Oncology Groundshot Commission to provide the evidence base and road map for cancer research focusing on this area. He has published many high impact papers included in key publications such as New England Journal of Medicine, Lancet, Nature Medicine, Lancet Oncology and Cancer Discovery.
Mark launched the European Cancer Patient’s Bill of Rights (BoR), with ECPC Past President Francesco de Lorenzo in the European Parliament in 2014. The BoR was adopted by 25 countries and it has been a catalyst for change and empowerment for cancer patients. It was recently adopted by ECCO, the largest interdisciplinary cancer organisation in Europe.
Mark is currently Associate Director of Health Data Research Wales-Northern Ireland, one of 6 Health Data Research UK (HDR-UK) Substantive Sites, which is driving innovative precision medicine and public health approaches through the use of Big Data.
Mark is also the Queen’s Lead of the Stratified Medicine in Colorectal Cancer Consortium (S:CORT), a UK-wide consortium investigating novel precision medicine approaches in colorectal cancer (CRC). He is a member of many scientific boards including the Board of the European Alliance for Personalised Medicine (EAPM), where he led the development of EAPM’s research strategy, the Scientific Advisory Board of the European Cancer Patient Coalition and the Strategic Advisory Board of Genomics England.
Why cancer?
Mark has dedicated himself to the fight against cancer because he believes that research can make a real difference. Research is the key – being treated in a research-active hospital or institute means you have a better chance to beat cancer. We must grasp this opportunity.
