Friday 15 January 1999
Internationally renowned scientist Dr Peter Rigby has been appointed Chief Executive of the Institute of Cancer Research, Britain's leading academic cancer research centre. He will take up his new position on 1 February 1999.
Dr Rigby is a molecular biologist who is currently Head of the Division of Eukaryotic Molecular Genetics at the Medical Research Council's National Institute for Medical Research where he has worked since 1986. His research team, which he will continue to lead, will move with him to the Institute of Cancer Research.
He commented: "I am delighted to be taking up this position at such an exciting time in the Institute of Cancer Research's development. My predecessor, Professor Peter Garland, has led the Institute to a position of considerable strength, and I hope to be able to build on his impressive achievements.
"Biology in general, and cancer research in particular, are poised to enter the post-genomic era. We will soon know the sequence of the human genome and this will lead to enormous opportunities to understand what goes wrong in cancer cells and to develop new treatments for the disease. The Institute plans to be at the forefront of this crucial work. In taking its research programme forward, the Institute will benefit enormously from its close collaborations with the clinical research work of the Royal Marsden NHS Trust."
Dr Rigby worked at the Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine from 1976 to 1986 where he led the Cancer Research UK's first group using recombinant DNA techniques to study the ways in which cancer causing viruses transform normal cells into tumour cells.
His pioneering work at the National Institute for Medical Research is concerned with understanding how muscles are made and how the structures of an organism come to be located in their proper position.
"Many of the defects in cancer cells affect processes used during the normal development of an organism, and so many advances in cancer research have stemmed from studies in developmental biology. My expertise is in gene regulation and I look forward to contributing to the important new initiative the Institute is making in this area," said Dr Rigby.
Dr Rigby is currently a member of the Scientific Committee of the Cancer Research Campaign and he has been a member of the Medical and Scientific Advisory Panel of the Leukaemia Research Fund, and of a number of major Medical Research Council Committees. He was for many years European Editor of Cell, the premier scientific journal for cell and molecular biology. He is also an adviser to a number of biotechnology companies working on the development of cancer therapeutics.
The present Chief Executive, Professor Peter Garland, has been with the Institute of Cancer Research since 1989. During this time the organisation became a receiver of HEFCE (government) funding and increased its staff by 40% to around 700, recruiting many outstanding scientists.
In December 1996 a major national assessment of British Universities found the Institute of Cancer Research to be the UK's top cancer research centre and at the forefront of international biomedical research. A major building programme to double the size of the Institute's laboratories in Chelsea is nearing completion, and work to expand laboratory space in Sutton is due to begin in the Spring. Professor Garland retires aged 65 years on 31 January 1999.
Dame Stella Rimington, Chairman of the Institute of Cancer Research said:
"Under Professor Garland the Institute of Cancer Research has gone from strength to strength. We are delighted someone of Dr Rigby's calibre is to be his successor. His knowledge and experience will be invaluable to the organisation.
"We have a pioneering scientific programme - we invested in molecular genetics which led to the discovery of the breast cancer gene BRCA2, and most recently to the Bcl10 gene which is involved in many cancers. Now we have plans for major new initiatives in gene function and regulation, and molecular pathology - the core of cancer research.
"We are fund raising to expand and refurbish our laboratories on Fulham Road and in Sutton, and to establish the UK's first dedicated male cancer research centre. Dr Rigby will support all this exciting work, and bring his own initiatives which will allow the Institute to continue in excellence."
The Institute of Cancer Research has been responsible for many breakthroughs including isolating more cancer genes than any other research organisation in the world. Other historic successes include the discovery of three of the main drugs used in cancer treatments, the fundamental discovery that cancer is a malfunction of DNA, and identifying the suspected link between smoking and the risk of lung cancer.
- ends -
For further information please contact The Press Office on:-
Tel: 0207 970 6030
email: [email protected]
Please note:
Unfortunately the press office are unable to answer queries from the general public. For general cancer information please refer to The Institute's cancer information page.