Dr. Karen Vousden is a distinguished leader in cancer biology whose career has spanned over three decades of groundbreaking research. She currently serves as a Principal Group Leader at The Francis Crick Institute in London, a position she has held since February 2017, following her tenure as Chief Scientist of Cancer Research UK from 2016 to 2022. Prior to these roles, she directed the Beatson Institute of Cancer Research in Glasgow for fourteen years, from 2002 to 2016, establishing herself as a pivotal figure in the UK cancer research landscape. Her career trajectory includes significant leadership positions at the National Cancer Institute in the United States, where she served as Chief of the Regulation of Cell Growth Laboratory from 1999 to 2002, and earlier as head of the Human Papillomavirus Group at the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research from 1987 to 1995.
Dr. Vousden's pioneering research has fundamentally advanced our understanding of the tumor suppressor protein p53, particularly its regulation and multifaceted functions in controlling cancer progression. Her seminal discovery revealed an unexpected role for p53 in helping cells adapt and survive during transient nutrient starvation, which redirected her research toward a comprehensive investigation of cancer cell metabolism. This work has established critical connections between oxidative stress, serine metabolism, and cancer development, providing new insights into metabolic vulnerabilities that could be targeted for therapeutic intervention. Her contributions have been instrumental in reshaping how scientists view tumor suppressor mechanisms and metabolic adaptations in cancer cells, influencing numerous subsequent studies in the field.
Recognized for her exceptional contributions, Dr. Vousden has been elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society, the Royal Society of Edinburgh, EMBO, the Academy of Medical Sciences, and a Foreign Associate of the National Academy of Sciences. She served as president of the British Association of Cancer Research from 2019 to 2023 and continues to influence the field through her advisory roles with Kovina Therapeutics, Volastra Therapeutics, and the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research. Her distinguished career has been honored with numerous prestigious awards including the Commander of the British Empire (CBE) for services to clinical science in 2010 and the Sir Hans Krebs medal from FEBS in 2023. Dr. Vousden remains actively engaged in advancing cancer research through her laboratory at The Francis Crick Institute, where she continues to explore innovative approaches to understanding and treating cancer through metabolic pathways.
