Alan Horwich - Profile
Professor Alan Horwich is Chairman of The Institute of Cancer Research’s Section of Radiotherapy. One of the Section’s main research areas focuses on evaluating and improving conformal radiotherapy techniques, in which radiation is precisely targeted at tumours to enable a higher dose while reducing damage to surrounding normal cells.
The section is developing the best way to define the exact tumour location, size and shape, known as target volume, and assessing different methods of tailoring treatment - using medical imaging and computer modelling - to patients. They are also researching radiation beam delivery techniques and making sure new methods are safe for patients.
Professor Horwich also holds senior management roles at the ICR as Head of Clinical Laboratories and Academic Dean, under which he is tasked with planning and implementing priorities and strategies for, respectively, research and education.
Professor Horwich completed his medical degree at the University of London in 1971 and began working in UK hospitals. He then spent a year at Harvard University in Boston as a Fellow in Oncology before beginning his research career in the UK in 1975. Professor Horwich studied for a PhD at the Imperial Cancer Research Fund.
After joining the ICR as a lecturer in 1981, Professor Horwich was appointed Professor of Radiotherapy in 1986. In 1994 he became the first Director of Clinical Research within the ICR and The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, a position he held for more than 10 years.
His research career to date has lead to the publication of more than 380 papers and he is on the editorial board for six peer-reviewed journals.
Professor Horwich specialises in urological malignancies and lymphomas and holds an honorary consultant contract with The Royal Marsden.
In his leisure time, Professor Horwich enjoys playing tennis and golf.
