Blood cancer charity Anthony Nolan has appointed Professor Antonio Pagliuca as Chief Medical and Scientific Adviser. He replaces Professor Alejandro Madrigal who left the charity in March 2020 following his retirement.
Blood cancer charity Anthony Nolan has appointed Professor Antonio Pagliuca as Chief Medical and Scientific Adviser. He replaces Professor Alejandro Madrigal who left the charity in March 2020 following his retirement.
Professor Pagliuca is currently Divisional Medical Director, King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and Professor of Stem Cell Transplantation at both King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and King’s College London. He will join Anthony Nolan in October where he will lead the charity’s research portfolio, including the Anthony Nolan Research Institute, two days a week.
Professor Pagliuca will play a crucial role in driving forward research to help tackle some of the biggest issues facing patients in need of lifesaving stem cell transplants – from understanding more about what makes the best possible stem cell donor match, to reducing the risk of transplant complications, such as Graft versus Host Disease (GvHD).
Having worked in the field of stem cell transplantation since the 1980s, Professor Pagliuca brings a wealth of experience to the charity, which was established in 1974. He says: ‘Anthony Nolan has been instrumental to many clinical and research developments.
‘Every year around 2,000 people in the UK need a stem cell transplant from a stranger. As the charity approaches its 50th year I’m excited to join Anthony Nolan at a time when its vision will be to strengthen its translational base and ensure that its research agenda focuses on tangible opportunities. The fields of immunogenetics, bioinformatics and the exciting era of cellular therapy in the 21st century can play a vital role in ensuring that as many of the 2,000 people who need a stem cell transplant in the UK annually, receive the best possible match.
‘I’m very much looking forward to meeting and getting to know the team and collaborating with them to make progress on research which has real world benefits for patients, donors and clinical practice’
Henny Braund, Chief Executive of Anthony Nolan, said: ‘We are delighted to appoint Tony as Chief Medical and Scientific Adviser at Anthony Nolan and look forward to his expert input and leadership.
‘Together, we will drive lifesaving research and turn it into action. Tony’s experience, insight and sector knowledge will be a huge benefit to the patients we work for, every day, who have always been, and continue to be, at the heart of our work.’
Anthony Nolan recruits people aged 16-30 to its stem cell register as research from the Anthony Nolan Research Institute has shown younger people offer better survival rates for patients. The charity also provides information and support to patients after a stem cell transplant, through its clinical nurse specialists and psychologists, who help guide patients through their recovery.
It costs £40 to recruit each potential donor to the register, so Anthony Nolan relies on financial support to make sure the charity can continue giving patients the best possible chance of life.
Find out more at anthonynolan.org.
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For more information, please call the Anthony Nolan Press Team on 0207 424 1300 or email press@anthonynolan.org. For urgent out of hours media enquiries, call 07881 265 285.
NOTES TO EDITORS
About Anthony Nolan
Anthony Nolan saves the lives of people with blood cancer. The charity uses its register to match potential stem cell donors to blood cancer and blood disorder patients in need of stem cell transplants. It also carries out pioneering research to increase stem cell transplant success, and supports patients through their transplant journeys. Every day Anthony Nolan gives three people a second chance at life. Find out more at www.anthonynolan.org
Note to sub editors
Please note that Anthony Nolan changed its name in 2001 and is no longer known as Anthony Nolan Trust.
What is a stem cell transplant?
If a patient has a condition that affects their bone marrow or blood, then a stem cell transplant may be their best chance of survival. Doctors will give new, healthy stem cells to the patient via their bloodstream, where they begin to grow and create healthy red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets.
Key statistics
- About 2,000 people in the UK need a stem cell transplant from a stranger every year
- 90% of donors donate through PBSC (peripheral blood stem cell collection). This is a simple, outpatient procedure similar to giving blood
- We need more young men to sign up, as they are most likely to be chosen to donate but make up just 18% of the register
- We need more people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) backgrounds to sign up. Only 60% of transplant recipients receive the best match. This drops dramatically to around 20% (one in five of transplant recipients) if you're from a Black, Asian or ethnic minority background.
- Blood cancer is the fifth most common type of cancer in the UK and the third biggest cancer killer. It accounts for 9% of all new cases of cancer diagnosed in the UK.
- It costs £40 to add each new donor to the register so we always need financial support
- To join the Anthony Nolan register, you must be 16-30 and healthy. Anthony Nolan’s world-leading Research Institute has shown younger donors offer better survival rates for patients.
