Moving from PARP Inhibition to Targeting DNA Repair and DDR in Cancer Therapy

Professor of Medical Oncology and Honorary Consultant in Medical Oncology; Clinical Director, CRUK Scotland Centre; Director, Nicola Murray Centre for Ovarian Cancer Research

Charlie graduated in Genetics and Medicine from Glasgow University in 1991 and 1994 respectively. From 1998 to 2005, he trained in medical oncology in Edinburgh, during which time he was awarded a PhD in ovarian cancer genetics from the University of Edinburgh and an NHS Education for Scotland Clinician Scientist Award. He was appointed as Senior Lecturer in Medical Oncology at the University of Edinburgh in 2005, Reader in Medical Oncology in 2011 and Professor of Medical Oncology (Personal Chair) in 2012. He received a Scottish Senior Clinical Fellowship Award in 2010. He became Director of the Nicola Murray Centre for Ovarian Cancer Research in 2016, Clinical Director of the Cancer Research UK Edinburgh Centre in 2019 and Clinical Director of the Cancer Research UK Scotland Centre in 2022.

Charlie’s clinical research focus is ovarian cancer clinical trials. He was UK Lead for the SOLO1 trial, which led to the first-line licence for olaparib in BRCA-mutant ovarian cancer, and for the GOG281/LOGS trial of trametinib, which is the first positive randomised controlled trial in low-grade serous ovarian cancer.

Charlie’s translational research focuses on molecular characterisation of ovarian cancer in order to improve understanding of drug sensitivity and resistance. His current priorities include targeting the molecular subgroups revealed by whole genome sequencing of high grade serous ovarian cancer and discovering new therapeutic strategies for treatment of low grade serous ovarian cancer.