International Women’s Day 2025: Celebrating women in cancer research

Introduction from Michelle Mitchell, our chief executive

While the proportion of women in the life sciences is growing, they are still underrepresented in senior roles.

I’ve written previously about this ‘leaky pipeline’ of scientific talent, and the need for us to continue building an inclusive and diverse research community

On International Women’s Day, we celebrate the contributions of women in science and research. However, we need more women rising through the ranks to accelerate progress to beat cancer for everybody.

We’re committed to developing future leaders in cancer research and ensuring more women pursue and advance in science careers. Today we highlight the stories of three inspirational women in cancer research.

Dr Lian Ni Lee

Dr Lian Ni Lee is Vice President of preclinical and co-founder of Infinitopes – a Cancer Research Horizons spinout focusing on the development of cancer vaccines. Infinitopes bridges the gap between basic research and clinical application by identifying tumour specific targets for cancer vaccines.

Lee, whose background is in infectious diseases and immunology, co-founded Infinitopes with Dr Jonathan Kwok and Dr Senthil Chinnakannan after participating in several accelerator programmes designed to translate exciting scientific ideas into companies.

“Looking back, I was fortunate to have been mentored by several senior women scientists. Their experiences really managed my expectations and normalised the idea that I could have a successful career and a good work–life balance,” said Lee.

Lee believes that to foster inclusivity, we need to normalise the idea that top scientists and entrepreneurs don’t have to look a certain way.

“For example, the harassed-looking mother dropping off her kids at the school gate is also the founder of a machine-learning AI start-up. I hope that this scenario will become so commonplace to the extent that setting aside a day to celebrate women and girls in science will become unnecessary!

“We must amplify the visibility of women role models in science and entrepreneurship while actively addressing implicit bias in hiring, promotions, and funding decisions.

“Establishing platforms for women to connect, collaborate, and share their achievements can help normalise diverse leadership. At the same time, increasing transparency in funding initiatives and celebrating women-led innovations through media can challenge stereotypes and inspire the next generation.

“Investors also play a critical role – unconscious bias often disadvantages women founders, highlighting the urgent need for more women in venture capital and leadership roles with a focused goal to support women-led innovation.”

Read more from Dr Lian Ni Lee on the Cancer Research Horizons’ website.

Sânziana Foia

Sânziana Foia, a PhD student at Imperial College London, is passionate about giving women the choice to do cervical screening in the comfort of their own homes. So, she created Papcup, a self-testing device that detects human papillomavirus (HPV) in minutes. Once trialled and tested, it could remove some of the biggest barriers to cervical screening, helping many more eligible people take part.

After her first cervical screening, Foia wondered if there could be a less invasive alternative.

Sânziana Foia in the lab with an image of Papcup, the new HPV test she has designed for cervical screening, on a laptop. — Sânziana Foia in the lab alongside an image of Papcup.

“I thought, do I have to suffer this for nothing? Isn’t there something that could be done with menstrual blood?” she said.

Her PhD focuses on using biosensing technology to monitor malaria treatments. People with diabetes also use biosensors to monitor the levels of glucose in their blood. This expertise helped make Papcup a reality.

Two years on, Foia is developing the first full Papcup prototype. Its biosensors can detect high-risk HPV in menstrual blood from a pad, tampon or menstrual cup.

“It’s the most non-invasive approach I could think of for collecting a sample,” Foia explains. “You would be able to decide when to do it, how to do it and where to do it. It would be completely on your own terms.”

Cancer Research Horizons supported her by connecting her with a mentor with expertise in cancer and sponsoring her place on the University of Edinburgh’s Venture Builder Incubator (VBI) programme.

The VBI programme helps postgraduate students, postdoctoral researchers and academic staff to develop their startup. Cancer Research Horizons partners with VBI to support academics using their research for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer.

More research is needed to validate self-sampling and at-home HPV testing methods, like Papcup, before they can be included in the cervical screening programme. However, this is an exciting step towards making cervical screening easier and more accessible.

Professor Christine Harrison

Professor Christine Harrison, Professor of Childhood Cancer Cytogenetics at Newcastle University Centre for Cancer, is one of the most highly regarded leukaemia cytogeneticists in the world, and her research has helped optimise treatments for children and young people with acute leukaemia.

Cytogenetics – the study of chromosomes, and how genes are inherited – helps to diagnose genetic diseases, plan treatment, and monitor effectiveness of therapy.

Harrison played an instrumental role in the creation of a database for the collection of cytogenetic data of acute leukaemia in 1988. By assisting clinicians to understand the role of chromosomal abnormalities in leukaemia, it has led to more effective treatments.

This database, renowned as one of the best leukaemia genetics research resources in the world, now includes data on over 35,000 UK patients, which has identified new genetic risk categories and changed treatment approaches.

Harrison was an early pioneer of chromosome mapping using fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH) in acute leukaemia, using it to aid treatment choice within clinical trials. FISH is now routinely used worldwide. This approach also led to the discovery of new chromosomal abnormalities, allowing researchers to develop modified treatments which have improved survival.

In 2021, Harrison was awarded a £1m Cancer Research UK-Children with Cancer UK Innovation Award to study aneuploidies – the presence of extra or missing chromosomes in a cell – aiming to understand how these genetic abnormalities can lead to the development of childhood cancer.

A passionate advocate for women in research, Harrison is part of the Academy of Medical Sciences SUSTAIN programme, supporting and mentoring women in leadership and career development.

Harrison was honoured with an OBE for services to children with acute leukaemia in the 2025 New Year’s Honours.

“I am delighted to receive this award in recognition of my 40 years in cancer research,” said Harrison.

“I wish to be a role model for young women commencing their careers in science. I would advise them to persevere and follow their dreams.”

Pushing for progress

These are just some of the incredible women working in cancer research. While progress is positive, there is a long way to go.

At Cancer Research UK, we’re committed to embedding equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) principles in our funding processes to remove barriers and boost participation for underrepresented groups.

Recognising that many of the barriers’ women in research face are not unique to academia, we’ve set up initiatives like our Women of Influence programme. This mentorship scheme pairs exceptional scientists with leading businesswomen to support early career researchers.

We’ll continue to push for progress by funding more research that addresses cancer inequalities and creating a more inclusive and diverse research landscape.