Luke Wijsveld, 48, will be running the Berlin Marathon on 21 September, to mark 10 years since the death of his father-in-law, Professor Chris Marshall. Chris was a pioneering cancer researcher who spent 35 years working at The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR), making vital discoveries which have shaped our understanding of how cancers arise and have led to the development of advanced therapies to treat them.
In April 2015, Luke completed his very first marathon – the London Marathon – and having only recently started running, this was a big challenge for him. His father-in-law, Professor Chris Marshall, who was very sporty and a keen cyclist, was hugely supportive of Luke’s efforts, but sadly died just four months later at the age of 66, following a diagnosis of colorectal cancer.
Shortly after Chris’ death, Luke and his wife Lucy, ran a half marathon together in memory of her father and to raise funds for the ICR. Since then, Luke has completed two more London Marathons (virtually in 2021 when the event was cancelled due to Covid and again in 2023), as well as the Brighton Marathon in 2024.
With 2025 marking a decade since Chris’ death, Luke decided it was time to don his running shoes again:
“It is hard to believe that it is 10 years since Chris died. We all miss him so much, even after all this time. I had thought the Brighton Marathon last year would be my last but given how supportive Chris was when I ran my first marathon, I wanted to mark the anniversary of his passing by running another one. Signing up for the Berlin Marathon allowed me enough time to train and it seemed apt to raise funds for the ICR to support the groundbreaking research that was so important to Chris.”
Chris’ work paved the way for drugs used in cancer treatment today
Chris was known for the rigour of his thinking, his exceptional scientific standards and a willingness to help others, including many scientists who are now themselves leaders in their fields.
Among his most significant achievements was the identification of a human oncogene – a normal gene present in each cell that mutates and triggers cancer. This work began in 1980, when Chris established his own research team at the ICR. Alongside his late colleague, Professor Alan Hall, Chris built on the discovery, made a few years earlier by scientists in the US, that the DNA taken out of a human cancer cell could be transferred to a mouse cell and that the mouse cell could then be turned into a cancer cell.
Chris and Alan found a new oncogene in a couple of human cancer samples. They called it NRAS – it was a member of the family of RAS genes that we now know underlies the development of a quarter or more of all cancers.
But Chris was aware that identifying the oncogenes was only the start. Decades of painstaking work revealed how RAS instructs cells to divide and move, and how the cancer-associated mutations lead to an inability to control these activities. He recognised that understanding how RAS functions would be key to developing new therapies and was passionate about translating his research into clinical application.
His work paved the way for four new classes of cancer drug to enter the clinic, two of which have been approved for widespread use in the routine treatment of cancer patients today. His work on mutations in the BRAF gene has led to targeted drug treatments for melanoma and, more recently, bowel cancer.
He had an ability to inspire and motivate other scientists
Aside from his groundbreaking discoveries, Chris had an ability to inspire and motivate those with whom he worked, evidenced by the success of the many alumni of his laboratory who have gone on to lead cancer research groups and institutes of their own. His willingness to mentor, support and nurture talent resulted in numerous successful scientists working in cancer research today, including Professor Chris Bakal and Professor Victoria Sanz-Moreno at the ICR, Professor Karen Vousden, Principal Group Leader at the Francis Crick Institute and a former Chief Scientific Officer at Cancer Research UK, and Dr Erik Sahai, a Principal Group Leader and Assistant Research Director at the Francis Crick Institute, among many others.
Chris also took on many leadership roles. He was an inspirational Director of Research at the ICR under three Chief Executives, and served with distinction as Team Leader, Professor of Cell Biology and Head of the Division of Cancer Biology (now known as the Division of Cell and Molecular Biology). He helped Cancer Research UK develop their research strategy and distribute research funding.
He was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society and the European Academy of Cancer Sciences, he was a founding member of the Academy of Medical Sciences, and he was a member of the European Molecular Biology Organisation. He also received many awards, including the Novartis Medal of the Biochemical Society and the 2011 Cancer Research UK Lifetime Achievement in Cancer Research Award.
“10 years have passed but we still miss him so much”
Chris’ son-in-law, Luke, ran his fastest marathon in 3 hours 56 minutes, but when it comes to running in Berlin, he says he will simply be glad to cross the finish line. With his training hampered by injury, he has had to adjust his fitness plan accordingly. While he is doubtful of beating his personal best, he is determined to complete the race and hopefully smash his target of raising £1,000 for the ICR. One thing is certain, he will be motivated to cross the finish line with Chris in mind:
“Chris was such a big figure in all our lives. Of course, his work was incredibly important and he achieved great things. But as part of our family, he was a great father and grandad, he was really supportive and he was all about having fun. 10 years have passed but we still miss him so much.”
To support Luke and raise funds for our vital research, visit Luke's fundraising page.