Personal profile
Biographical details
Richard Sullivan is Professor of Cancer and Global Health at King’s College London, and Director of the King’s Institute of Cancer Policy and co-Director of the Conflict and Health Research Group (kcl.ac.uk/research/conflict-health-research-group). His research interests extend from global cancer to conflict & health. Richard has worked on a number of Lancet and Lancet Oncology commissions, currently the Lancet Commission on Global Diagnostics (diagnosticscommission.org) and the Lancet Oncology European Cancer Research Commission. Richard’s research teams have major programs in capacity building in conflict and health, and humanitarian medicine, particularly in the Middle East and North Africa (r4hc-mena.org), as well as programmes in women’s health and cancer, digital innovation (virtual-reality enhanced surgery) and a wide range of global health security projects including on the COVID-19 pandemic and strengthening health systems in NW and NE Syria. His global cancer research programs cover cancer systems strengthening, affordability, value particularly and political economy, global radiotherapy, social welfare and cancer care in conflict. Professor Sullivan qualified in medicine and trained in surgery (urology) gaining his PhD in Biochemistry from University College London. Richard was Clinical Director of Cancer Research UK between 1999 and 2008. He has also worked for many years on biosecurity and counterproliferation issues, including Ebola outbreaks in West Africa and DR Congo. Richard is an NCD advisor to the WHO, a member of the National Cancer Grid of India and advisor (civil-military) to Save the Children.
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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SDG 1 No Poverty -
SDG 2 Zero Hunger -
SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being -
SDG 4 Quality Education -
SDG 5 Gender Equality -
SDG 6 Clean Water and Sanitation -
SDG 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth -
SDG 9 Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure -
SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities -
SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities -
SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production -
SDG 14 Life Below Water -
SDG 15 Life on Land -
SDG 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions -
SDG 17 Partnerships for the Goals
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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Health equity and displaced people: challenges, progress, and the path forward
Tawfiles, D., Zughbur, M. R., Rosa, W. E., Dee, E. C., Marhoom, M., Gafer, N., Ginsburg, O., Fouad, F. M. & Sullivan, R., 17 Jan 2026, In: The Lancet. 407, 10525, p. 200-203Research output: Contribution to journal › Comment/debate › peer-review
1 Citation (Scopus) -
1515MO Clinical outcomes and PD-L1 expression analyses from a trial of mRNA-4359 plus pembrolizumab in checkpoint inhibitor-resistant/refractory (CPI-R/R) melanoma
Pinato, D. J., Sullivan, R. J., Khattak, A., Sarker, D., Medina, T., Karydis, I., Middleton, G., Spiliopoulou, P., Rohatgi, A., Gutierrez, M., Daud, A. I., Boni, V., Middleton, M. R., Sweis, R., Bauman, J. E., Mao, X., Daghestani, H., Abadier, M., Barlaskar, F. & Long, G. V., 5 Nov 2025, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Annals of Oncology. 36, p. S844-S845Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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323TiP Updated study design of mRNA-4359-P101: Cohort expansions in first-line and CPI-R/R melanoma and PD-L1-high first-line NSCLC
Middleton, G., Khattak, A., Pinato, D. J., Jimeno, A., Middleton, M. R., Long, G., Sullivan, R. J., Rohatgi, A., Gutierrez, M., Sarker, D., Sweis, R., Parakh, S., Karydis, I., Daud, A., Bauman, J. E., Weise, A. M., Leighton-Swayze, A. M., Barlaskar, F., Pascarella, S. & Spiliopoulou, P., 1 Dec 2025, In: Immuno-Oncology and Technology. 28, p. 101522Research output: Contribution to journal › Meeting abstract › peer-review
Open Access -
Application of implementation science methods and theories for cancer control planning in low-income and middle-income countries: a scoping review
Kataria, I., Selmouni, F., Duggan, C., Sullivan, R., Purushotham, A., Sankaranarayanan, R., Taghavi, K. & Basu, P., 27 Oct 2025, In: BMJ Open. 15, 10, e108755.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review
Open Access1 Citation (Scopus) -
Breast cancer in women in Gaza: Qualitative study of women's expectations and experiences of diagnosis and management
AlWaheidi, S., Sullivan, R. & Davies, E. A., 10 Apr 2025, In: ecancermedicalscience. 19, 1889.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile3 Citations (Scopus)8 Downloads (Pure)
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ONCORESIL-UK: ESRC IAA: Resilient Oncology: Evidence to Action for Cancer Care in Conflict-Affected Ukraine
Sullivan, R. (Primary Investigator)
ESRC Economic and Social Research Council
1/02/2026 → 31/10/2026
Project: Research
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ACCI: Access Cancer Care India (ACCI): implementation of an affordable, equitable and integrated multi-cancer early detection package to improve cancer outcomes in resource-constrained settings
Sullivan, R. (Primary Investigator) & Purushotham, A. (Co-Investigator)
1/11/2021 → 1/10/2026
Project: Research
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UKRI GCRF / Newton Fund / ODA Consolidation Funding
Sullivan, R. (Primary Investigator) & Kienzler, H. (Co-Investigator)
EPSRC Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
1/10/2022 → 31/03/2023
Project: Research
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R4HSSS: Research for Health System Strengthening in northern Syria (R4HSSS)
Sullivan, R. (Primary Investigator) & Patel, P. (Co-Investigator)
NIHR National Institute For Health & Care Research
1/10/2020 → 30/09/2025
Project: Research
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Cross Border Conflict Research Programme - Violent and Peaceful Behaviour: Lot 2
Cheng, C. (Primary Investigator), Sullivan, R. (Co-Investigator), Barker, E. (Co-Investigator) & Wilkinson, B. (Co-Investigator)
15/05/2020 → 31/07/2021
Project: Research