Our Functional Genomics Centre Team

Our partnership between industry and academia aims to democratise access to functional genomics across the Cancer Research UK community. It enables our teams to work together on some of the most important problems in cancer today.

Two scientists in blue lab coats pointing at equipment.

Our leadership

David Walter

Cancer Research UK lead of the Functional Genomics Centre | Group leader, Cancer Research Horizons

Douglas Ross Thriepland

AstraZeneca lead of the Functional Genomics Centre | Director, Discovery Science, R&D, AstraZeneca

Rachel Grimley

Senior Vice President, Drug Discovery

Ultan McDermott

Chief Scientist, Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca

Our triage panel

The Cancer Research Horizons Triage Panel have the responsibility of prioritising projects to bring into the Functional Genomics Centre (FGC) on behalf of Cancer Research Horizons. Projects will be prioritised based on Cancer Research Horizons strategic priority, feasibility and deliverability.

Owen Sansom

Director of the Cancer Research UK Scotland Institute

Caroline Dive

Group Leader at the Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute and Professor of Pharmacology at The University of Manchester

Jessica Downs

Deputy Head of the Division of Cancer Biology at the Institute of Cancer Research

Stuart Farrow

Vice President of Biosciences

Mathew Garnett

Senior Group Leader, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Cambridge

Our scientific advisory board

The FGC benefits from the expertise of an international Scientific Advisory Board. Working closely with the FGC’s management, the board helps maximize the potential of the centre’s resources and capabilities. By focusing on strong scientific rationale and translational science, the board drives the development of the FGC’s project pipeline. Members of the board are renowned experts in cancer research, functional genomics, genome biology, pharmacogenomics, and computational biology.