Pioneering cancer researcher takes on charity cycle in memory of his colleague

Professor Richard Marais (left) trains for the Fred Whitton Challenge in 2016, to raise funds in memory of Professor Chris Marshall (right), who was a keen cyclist.

Pioneering cancer researcher Professor Richard Marais is taking on a 112-mile cycle challenge to raise funds in memory of Professor Chris Marshall – an outstanding and inspirational scientist whose work led to the development of new cancer treatments.

Professor Marshall, former Director of Research at The Institute of Cancer Research, London, sadly died from colorectal cancer in 2015.

Professor Marais will be taking part in the Fred Whitton Challenge – an iconic, 112-mile cycle challenge over all the major passes of the Lake District National Park – on 8 May to raise funds for the ICR and Cancer Research UK. 

Professor Richard Marais was Head of the Division of Cancer Biology at the ICR until 2012. He focused his energy on unearthing the complex mechanisms by which the mutated BRAF gene drives cancer development – ultimately leading to the development of the targeted skin cancer drug vemurafenib.

He is now Director of the CRUK Manchester Institute, where he continues his collaboration with the ICR, aiming to further increase our knowledge of BRAF’s role in skin cancer.

Professor Marais talks about the motivation behind his fundraising challenge in an interview for the ICR.

You can donate to his fundraising challenge here.