Professor Karl Peggs takes up Director roles leading clinical research partnership with UCLH

Professor Peggs is a Professor of Transplant Science and Cancer Immunotherapy at the UCL Cancer Institute, as well as a consultant in haematology and transplantation at UCLH, and Clinical and Scientific Director of UCLH’s Sir Naim Dangoor Centre for Cellular Immunotherapy.

As co-founder and chief medical officer of UCL spin-out company Achilles Therapeutics, Professor Peggs develops novel cancer immunotherapy treatments. 

In his new directorship roles, Professor Peggs will act as a critical link between the pioneering medicine being practiced at UCLH and the innovative research of UCL scientists.

The appointments follow a distinguished career in academia and medicine, with specialisms in viral infections, immune reconstitution, adoptive cellular therapies, and regulatory checkpoint-directed immune-therapeutics, spanning over 30 years.

UCLH chief executive David Probert said: “We are delighted to appoint a clinician and academic of Karl’s outstanding calibre to lead our ambitious clinical research programme.

“Over the next five years, we will grow our national and international research portfolios, with our academic partner UCL and others, to improve care and outcomes for patients.

“Karl is a pioneer in the field of cancer immunology and his innovative leadership will support UCLH to consolidate its position as a world-leading research hospital.”

Upon news of his appointment Professor Peggs said: “The UCLH BRC has had real success over the last 12 years and I would like to take the opportunity to thank my predecessor, Professor Bryan Williams, for his outstanding contribution to make this happen.

“UCLH has been such an important part of my life and career and so I am excited to evolve my role and the work I do across the institution. The breadth of outstanding scientific and clinical research delivered across all the NIHR partner organisations is truly amazing and I look forward to helping realise the impact of these many innovative programmes.”

Links

• Professor Karl Peggs’ academic profile
• UCL Cancer Institute
• UCL Medical Sciences
• NIHR UCLH BRC
• UCLH announcement

Media contact
Sophie Hunter

sophie.hunter [at] ucl.ac.uk