Rebecca Fitzgerald - Biography#

Rebecca Fitzgerald is Professor of Cancer Prevention and Interim Director at the MRC Cancer Unit, University of Cambridge. She leads the Early Detection Programme of the CRUK Cambridge Centre which is part of the International Alliance in Early Detection and is an Hon. Consultant in Gastroenterology and Oncology at Addenbrooke's Hospital. The focus of her research is to investigate the steps in malignant transformation in the oesophagus and stomach, and to use this information to improve clinical early detection strategies. Her work to develop and implement the Cytosponge and related biomarker assays for detection of Barrett's oesophagus and associated dysplasia has been awarded a number of prizes including the Westminster Medal. In 2013, she was elected as a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences and in 2021 elected a Member of EMBO. Rebecca is committed to teaching and is a Fellow of Medical Sciences at Trinity College Cambridge.

Rebecca was an invited member of the Chief Medical Officer’s Working Group to revise the Terms of Reference for the National Screening Committee. She is Chairing a review of Screening for SAPEA and in 2020 was elected to represent the UK on the European Mission Cancer Assembly Board. She is the Internal Affairs Committee Chair and Trustee of the Association of Physicians of Great Britain and Ireland. She is a Trustee and Director of the Evelyn Trust which supports medical grants for young investigators and local medical causes. Rebecca was a Lister Prize winner and since 2015 Rebecca has served as a member of Lister Institute Governing Body. Rebecca has served on the Research Committee for the British Society of Gastroenterology and is a Fellow of the American Gastroenterology Association. She is Senior Associate Editor of 'Gastroenterology', the premier specialist GI journal as well as being an editor for F1000. Rebecca has trained over 30 PhD students including clinicians pursuing an academic career. She is a sought after mentor for the Academy of Medical Sciences in the UK.

Rebecca is an advocate of involving patients and public in research. She is a founder member of Heartburn Cancer UK providing public outreach to raise awareness of oesophageal cancer. Rebecca is committed to communicating science to the public and has appeared regularly on radio and television.