During the visit, His Majesty met scientists exploring some of the fundamental biological processes that drive cancer and other diseases, including the effects of the environment, inflammation and ageing.

His Majesty was received by the Lord Lieutenant and greeted by the Crick’s Chairman, Lord Browne of Madingley, Director Edith Heard, Chief Operating Officer Claire Hook and Honorary Life President Paul Nurse.    

His Majesty first visited the Cancer Evolution and Genome Instability Laboratory, where he met Cancer Research UK funded scientist and Crick Clinical Director Charles Swanton. Professor Swanton served as our Chief Clinician for nine years and continues to lead our flagship lung cancer study, TRACERx. He and his team have shown how air pollution can trigger lung cancer in people who have never smoked, via inflammatory pathways.

To conclude the visit, Edith Heard presented His Majesty with a framed photograph of the same space ten years earlier, when Queen Elizabeth II, accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh, officially opened the Crick. His Majesty then unveiled a plaque commemorating his visit and the Crick’s tenth anniversary.  

“The Crick was built on a bold, shared vision: to bring together outstanding scientists, cutting-edge technology and long-term investment in discovery science,” said Michelle Mitchell OBE, our Chief Executive.

“Ten years on, that vision is helping to drive advances in our understanding of cancer and many other diseases. His Majesty’s visit recognises the researchers, supporters, donors and partners whose commitment has helped make the Crick one of the UK’s leading centres for discovery science and whose work will help shape progress for years to come.”