Clatterbridge has appointed Professor Tim Maughan as its Director of Clinical Research.
Prof Maughan is Chair of Oncology at the University of Liverpool (UoL) and already has an honorary contract at The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre NHS Foundation Trust (CCC), with him leading on the creation of its new Research Strategy.
Prof Maughan, who is also Professor Emeritus at the University of Oxford, is widely known for his research in colorectal cancer, mainly as a clinical trial leader. He led four UK national Medical Research Council (MRC) studies and worked in Cardiff as an NHS oncologist where he set up the Wales Cancer Trials Network. He has previously chaired the Clinical Research Committee for Cancer Research UK (CRUK) and from 2011 to 2021 was Clinical Director of the MRC/CRUK Oxford Institute for Radiation Oncology while he was Professor of Clinical Oncology at the University of Oxford.
Since being appointed to the role of Chair of Oncology at UoL in January last year, Prof Maughan has been working on a strategy to tackle cancer in the Liverpool City Region and address its health-related inequalities.
Prof Maughan said: “I am extremely pleased to be appointed to this position, leading and supporting an incredibly talented team at a time of change. There is a once in a generation opportunity for cancer research across the city, as part of the University Hospitals of Liverpool Group, and the wider system of Cheshire and Merseyside.
“Clatterbridge has an established reputation for cancer research, which we want to take to the next level. We will focus on bringing new cancer treatments to our patients both from our own world leading research in cancer vaccines and other new approaches to therapy in new research clinics. This will be supported by a focus on driving health equity in our diverse population both in earlier diagnosis and as people come to Clatterbridge for treatment.
“The integration of the NHS organisations in Liverpool will provide brilliant new opportunities for closer collaboration with our surgical colleagues, and for new research using data science in cancer diagnosis.”
CCC’s Medical Director Dr Caroline Brammer said: “We are delighted that Professor Maughan has been appointed to the post of Director of Clinical Research. He has a huge amount of experience in taking world-class research teams to new levels and will bring a fresh perspective on our clinical trials and studies.
“Prof Maughan has developed our forthcoming Research Strategy, and I am pleased he will be heading the team that will put it into action.”
Prof Maughan takes over from Prof Christian Ottensmeier, who relinquished the Director of Clinical Research role after being appointed in January 2022, having overseen the successful development of CCC’s R&I Directorate. He will continue to work as a research-active consultant in medical oncology at CCC and as Chair of Immuno-Oncology at UoL.
Dr Gillian Heap, Director of Research and Innovation Operations, said: “During Professor Ottensmeier’s tenure, Clatterbridge has made significant strides in clinical research, achieving remarkable milestones and setting new benchmarks.
“I would like to thank him for his dedication and support over the past three-and-a-half years. He has successfully combined his oversight of clinical research with his own world-leading cancer vaccine research, which has helped our centre to be rightly regarded as one of the best NHS cancer research hospitals.”
