Professor Alan Horwich

Radiotherapy is used widely in the curative treatment of localised cancers, a goal which becomes increasingly important as advances in chemotherapy improve the control of micro-metastases.

One of Professor Horwich’s main research areas focuses on evaluating and improving intensity-modulated radiotherapy techniques, in which radiation is precisely targeted at tumours to enable a higher dose while reducing damage to surrounding normal cells.

Professor Horwich’s team 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 individually, using new medical imaging techniques and computer modelling. There is also evaluation of new techniques of radiation beam delivery such as stereotactic radiotherapy to define indications and benefits.

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 was a graduate research student for a PhD at the Imperial Cancer Research Fund studying RNA tumour viruses in Robin Weiss’ laboratory.

Professor Horwich joined the ICR as a lecturer in Michael Peckham’s team in 1981 and was appointed Professor of Radiotherapy in 1986.  In 1994 he became Director of Clinical Research, a joint appointment to both ICR and The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, a position he held for more than 10 years.

Professor Horwich 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 clinical research and for education.

His research career to date has led to the publication of more than 400 papers.  He is on the editorial board for several peer-reviewed journals and is Chairman of the Editorial Board of the British Journal of Cancer.

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 opera and playing tennis and golf.