David has 30 years’ experience in oncology research after gaining a degree in biochemistry from Brunel University. He completed a PhD at the University of London before joining Cancer Research UK as a postdoctoral researcher.
David then led the biology at a company developing therapeutics to control the switching ‘on’ and ‘off’ of genes in cancer. David worked for Cancer Research Technology where he gained experience in technology assessment, protection, development and licensing. While in this post, he introduced several innovative approaches to ensure the progression of discoveries towards patients, such as securing orphan designations, industry co-funding agreements and the establishment of industry-academia drug discovery alliances.
David joined The Brain Tumour Charity as Chief Scientific Officer, where he transformed the scientific funding for the charity, growing their international networks and establishing the charity as the pre-eminent funder of research into brain tumours, committing over £50m during his 7-year tenure.
He led on a number of innovative programmes, including the funding of complex innovative trial designs to support translation in the UK, establishment of a career-support funding scheme to encourage the future leaders in the field and the first centre dedicated to studying paediatric low-grade brain tumours in Europe.
After a year as Interim Chief Executive Officer, steering the charity through the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, he led on the development of a new research strategy, building on the strong foundations of underpinning research, to introduce translational funding schemes to ensure discoveries impact on patients.
