Speaker Profile
Deputy Clinical Director & Principal Group Leader, Francis Crick Inst.
Biography
Charles Swanton is Deputy Clinical Director and Principal Group Leader at The Francis Crick Institute, a thoracic oncologist at University College London Hospitals, and Chief Clinician of Cancer Research UK. His research has helped define how cancers evolve over time, diversify within individual tumors, evade treatment, and spread. He is Chief Investigator of TRACERx, the landmark longitudinal study tracking the genomic evolution of lung cancer from diagnosis through relapse and metastasis. His laboratory integrates tumor genomics, circulating tumor DNA, immune biology, and studies of chromosomal instability to identify mechanisms that shape cancer progression and treatment resistance. This work has advanced the understanding of intratumor heterogeneity and has helped establish evolutionary principles as a framework for precision oncology. Dr. Swanton is a Fellow of the Royal Society and has received major international recognition for cancer research. His translational focus is on using evolutionary biology to improve early detection, risk assessment, treatment selection, and strategies to prevent or intercept metastatic disease.
Session Abstract – PMWC 2027 Silicon Valley
Track Chair:
Emre Baser, AstraZeneca
PMWC Award Ceremony
• Max Diehn, Stanford (Pioneer)
• Sarah-Jane Dawson, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre / University of Melbourne (Luminary)
Featured Speakers
• Max Diehn, Stanford
• Sarah-Jane Dawson, University of Melbourne
• Phil Febbo, Veracyte
• Ash Alizadeh, Stanford
• Adrian Lee, University of Pittsburgh
• Emre Baser, AstraZeneca
• Keith Flaherty, Mass General
• Thomas Powles, Barts Cancer Institute
Early-Stage Cancer: Can MRD Decide Who Needs More Treatment?
When ctDNA should change escalation, de-escalation, and surveillance.
Advanced Cancer Monitoring
Detecting response, resistance, and relapse early enough to switch therapy.
From Blood to Drug
Liquid biopsy for therapy selection and matching patients to the right intervention.
Integrating Tissue, Liquid & Imaging Biomarkers
How multimodal monitoring should work in real oncology care.
MRD as a Surrogate Endpoint
The promise and hazards of using MRD to accelerate drug approval.
Davos of Precision Medicine
PMWC 2027 Program
January 27–29, 2027 · Santa Clara Convention Center
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