University College London adult centre

This centre delivers world‑class, patient‑focused clinical cancer research, integrating fundamental science with optimised clinical care.

Centre overview

Our University College London adult experimental cancer medicine centre (ECMC) supports the Cancer Institute, Cancer Trials Centre, the University College London Hospital (UCLH) Cancer Clinical Trials Unit and the NIHR Clinical Research Facilities at UCLH and the Royal Free Hospital.

The centre has expertise in proton beam therapy, cancer evolution, immunotherapy, and runs one of Europe’s most comprehensive CAR T‑cell programmes. Its portfolio spans solid tumour, haematological and rare cancer studies, including trials for teenage and young adult patients.

It also provides an integrated patient and public involvement review service and maintains strong partnerships with clinical and industry collaborators. Our accredited good clinical laboratory practice facility delivers biomarker assay development and regulatory‑grade trial endpoint analysis.

There is also a paediatric centre at University College London and Great Ormond Street Hospital.

Expertise

biomarker development, good clinical laboratory practice facility
first-in-human studies
cell therapies with development and delivery
haematology incorporating leukaemia, myeloma and lymphoma
immunotherapy studies, including intensive bispecific therapies
proton beam therapy and novel radiopharmaceuticals
precision oncology studies, including trial design
teenage and young adult cancers

Patient population

Between 2024-2025

5,230

5,230 new cancer cases within the NHS trust

7.3%

7.3% recruited to clinical trials (clinical trials of investigational medicinal products)

Key contacts

Martin Forster - Centre co-lead

Martin Forster is a Professor at UCL, a consultant oncologist at UCLH and the Clinical Lead for UCL ECMC and UCL Hospital Cancer Research. He specialises in thoracic and head and neck cancers, focusing on drug development and precision oncology. He co-leads the Cancer Research UK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence clinical trials theme and chairs the UK Head and Neck Research Group.

John Hartley - Centre co-lead

John Hartley is the Head of this ECMC’s Good Clinical Laboratory Practice Facility and Professor of Cancer Studies at UCL Cancer Institute. John has expertise in drug development, focusing on antibody drug conjugates. He has also long chaired the Cancer Research UK Protocol Safety and Review Board, shaping trial safety standards.

Dominic Patel - Centre business lead / Patient and public involvement lead

Dominic is the University College London (UCL) ECMC Research Operations Manager and oversees the strategic direction, governance, operational delivery and financial management. He leads outreach activity across the institute and plays a key role in strengthening patient and public involvement between the Institute and the University College London Hospital Cancer Trials Unit.

Contact details

Paul O'Gorman Building, University College London

72 Huntley Street

London

WC1E 6DD

Centre email:

ecmc@ucl.ac.uk

Programme office email:

ecmcadmin@cancer.org.uk