UCLH researcher listed as one of 100 most influential people in health globally

Congratulations to UCLH’s Dr Mary McCormack who has been listed as one of the 100 most influential people in health in the world by TIME magazine. 

Dr McCormack, consultant clinical oncologist at UCLH and scientist at UCL Cancer Institute, has spent more than two decades working to improve treatment for cervical cancer. 

She was lead investigator of the INTERLACE trial at UCLH and UCL, which found that better use of existing drugs increased cervical cancer survival rates and reduces recurrence. 

The results showed that, in cervical cancer patients, treatment with a short course of chemotherapy prior to chemo-radiation led to a 40% reduction in the risk of death and a 35% reduction in the risk of cancer returning over a period of at least the next five years. 

As outlined in TIME magazine’s listings, Dr McCormack completed this research despite tight constraints on budget and resources - and this new approach to treating cervical cancer has since been adopted around the world. 

The TIME100 Health list is based on months of work by TIME consulting sources and experts around the world to select the 100 individuals they considered to be most influential in the world right now. 

Dr McCormack said: “I was delighted to learn that I had been included in this list. The upfront chemotherapy delivered according to the INTERLACE trial protocol represents a simple way to make a positive difference in cervical cancer, using existing drugs that are cheap and already approved. I am pleased that this approach is now included in international guidelines and has been adopted in several cancer centres worldwide. 

“I would like to acknowledge the huge contribution of my colleagues and coauthors at UCLH and UCL in supporting this trial, their contribution to the data management and analysis and subsequent publication.” 

Prof Geoff Bellingham, Medical Director, Surgery and Cancer Board at UCLH, said: “Huge congratulations to Mary on this recognition. This is a massive achievement and reflects her commitment over many years to improving outcomes in cervical cancer." 

The main funders of the INTERLACE trial at UCLH and UCL were Cancer Research UK. The trial was possible thanks to the close collaboration between the Cancer Clinical Trials Unit, Radiotherapy and Chemotherapy Daycare. The trial was supported by the NIHR UCLH Biomedical Research Centre.