30 Jan 2024 Policy

Leukaemia UK bolsters research and advocacy team, in support of ambitious strategy to accelerate progress in the diagnosis, treatment, and care of leukaemia

Leukaemia UK is pleased to announce Dr Simon Ridley as the new Director of Research and Advocacy and Dr Georgia Papacleovoulou as the organisation’s first ever Head of Policy and Advocacy. Together, Simon and Georgia will shape the Research, Advocacy and Policy work at Leukaemia UK, playing a crucial part in Leukaemia UK’s overall mission to stop leukaemia from devastating lives.

Dr Simon Ridley comes to Leukaemia UK from the University of Cambridge. He has a background in biomedical research, strategy, and funding, including previous leadership roles in the medical charity sector. Simon will lead Leukaemia UK’s research and advocacy strategy, building on its world-class research foundations and supporting its goal to save and improve more lives.

Accelerating progress through research and advocacy is at the core of Leukaemia UK’s mission to stop leukaemia from devastating lives. With only 52% of people living for more than five years after a leukaemia diagnosis – one of the lowest survival rates of any cancer – the charity is focused on bringing researchers, healthcare professionals and people affected together to discover kinder and more effective treatment options, and advocate to ensure the best outcomes for all patients.

Dr Ridley said:

“I am delighted to join Leukaemia UK at an exciting time for the charity. We will continue to fund as much impactful research as we can, while providing a voice for people affected by leukaemia, and working collaboratively to find solutions to the key issues that affect them.”

Dr Georgia Papacleovoulou is Leukaemia UK’s first Head of Policy and Advocacy, joining the charity from Pancreatic Cancer UK where she was the Health Intelligence and Improvement Lead. This new role for Leukaemia UK signals the plans for growth in this area of the charity’s work to ensure that breakthroughs in the lab benefit all those affected by leukaemia across the UK.

Dr Papacleovoulou said:

“We will keep ensuring that our work reflects the needs of people affected by leukaemia, including improvements in how people affected are diagnosed and access vital treatments and therapies. In a general election year, it’s important to keep these topics on political agendas, and I am excited to help Leukaemia UK deliver for patients.”

Fiona Hazell, Chief Executive of Leukaemia UK, said:

“I am delighted that Simon and Georgia join our small but mighty Leukaemia UK team, and I am inspired by their vision for Research, Advocacy, and Policy for the organisation. Simon’s impressive experience and dedication to the cause will be crucial to accelerate progress in research, helping us find kinder and more effective treatments. Having Georgia as our first ever Head of Policy and Advocacy will support us in understanding key challenges for patients, developing solutions, and to influence those in charge to implement them and drive improvements in outcomes for the 10,000 patients and their families who are affected every year.”