Presidents of the Medical Research Foundation

Professor Nick Lemoine CBE

Professor Nick Lemoine CBE is Associate Director of Strategic Intelligence at the NIHR Research Development Network Coordinating Centre and Professor of Molecular Oncology at Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London. He previously served as Director of Barts Cancer Institute from 2003 to 2024 and is currently Centre Lead for Cancer Biomarkers & Biotherapeutics at the Institute. He is also Executive Dean of the Academy of Medical Sciences at Zhengzhou University, People's Republic of China.

Nick was awarded a CBE in the 2022 New Year Honours List for services to clinical research, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Nick was a trustee of the Medical Research Foundation from its inception on 1 April 2011 and served as Chair from 1 April 2014 until 30 September 2023, when his final term of office came to an end. He was instrumental in the establishment and development of the Foundation and its two former linked charities, Academy of Research and Enterprise (AREF) and the Global Alliance for Chronic Diseases (GACD), serving as Chair of their respective Boards.

In addition to his work with the Foundation, Nick is a Trustee of Pancreatic Cancer UK and a Trustee of the Association of Medical Research Charities (AMRC).

Nick became President of the Medical Research Foundation on 1 October 2023, a role he holds jointly with the Medical Research Council's Executive Chair.

“I have been involved with the Medical Research Foundation for nearly fifteen years, first serving as a trustee from 2011 and then as the Chair of the Board of Trustees from 2015 to 2024. I am very proud of my association with the Foundation, and it gives me great pleasure to continue championing its work through my role as President. I’m pleased that I have been able to leave a gift in my Will to the Foundation. As someone who is passionate about the next generation of researchers, I hope that in years to come the Foundation will be able to use the gift that I have made to best effect.”

Professor Patrick Chinnery

Professor Patrick Chinnery FRS FMedSci FRCP is the Executive Chair of the Medical Research Council (MRC). Professor Chinnery is also a practising neurologist at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge, where his clinical expertise complements his leadership, bridging advanced science and healthcare delivery. In 2024, Professor Chinnery was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in recognition of his significant contributions to science. He is also an Emeritus Senior Investigator of the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), and co-chairs the NIHR BioResource for Translational Research in Common and Rare Diseases.

“I accepted the role of President of the Medical Research Foundation as I want to help the world’s most exciting research into human biology and disease translate into improved healthcare. As a practising clinician, I have seen people’s lives transformed. As a researcher, I know there is more to be accomplished. For these reasons, it is my privilege and pleasure to support a cause that changes lives."