Professor Marcel Van Herk

Theme Lead

Physicist Marcel van Herk is responsible for a programme of international leading cancer research and innovation, closely interfaced with clinical practice. The group’s focus is on improving accuracy of radiation therapy including target volume definition, treatment planning, image guidance and imaging-based treatment follow-up generating real-world evidence from very large cohorts of patients.

His multidisciplinary group is part of the division of cancer sciences. It includes 2 senior lecturers (one honorary), 5 research associates, 24 PhD students, 14 masters’ students and 6 clinical scientist (HSST) students who cover physics, clinical oncology, clinical physics, radiography, and radiology. All research is directly aimed at improving the clinical practice of cancer treatment in the Christie, UK, and the world. A key element is the direct collaboration with academic clinicians, of which there are few. His work led to new standards of care in cancer treatment delivery and is recognised internationally as practice changing. Marcel has (co-) authored 300 papers in peer reviewed journals.