Luminespib

Professor Paul Workman OBE has been awarded the Enrst W. Bertner Memorial Award by The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, for his distinguished contributions to cancer research. The award, established in 1950, honours the late Ernst William Bertner, M.D., and recognises individuals whose discoveries have profoundly advanced our understanding and treatment of cancer. In 1966, Sir Alexander Haddow – who served as Director of the ICR from 1946–1969 – received the award, then known as the Bertner Foundation Award. Previously Chief Executive and President of The Institute of Cancer Research, London, for seven years until 2021, Professor Workman has spent more than five decades in cancer research, focusing on the discovery and early clinical development of innovative, molecularly targeted, precision medicines for cancer patients. He was awarded an OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) in the New Year Honours list 2026 for his services to cancer research. On awarding Professor Workman with the Ernst W. Bertner Memorial Award, Dr Timothy Yap at UT MD Anderson noted that, throughout his career, Professor Workman has transformed the landscape of translational cancer research through his vision, leadership, and scientific innovation. At The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR), Professor Workman was Director, from 1997 to 2016, of what is now the ICR’s Centre for Cancer Drug Discovery. He grew this therapeutic discovery unit into the world’s most successful academic centre for discovering new precision cancer medicines, translating scientific excellence into patient benefit. Since 2005, research teams in the Centre for Cancer Drug Discovery have delivered 21 prospective cancer drugs, 13 of which have entered clinical trials. In addition to his role in directing most of this portfolio of drug discovery achievements, Professor Workman has been personally involved in discovering multiple precision medicine candidates and therapies targeting some of the most important pathways in cancer biology, including the HSP90 inhibitor NVP-AUY922 (luminespib with Vernalis) and the PI3K inhibitor GDC-0941 (pictilisib with Piramed Pharma). Last year, the first-in-class AKT inhibitor capivasertib (AZD5363), was recommended on the NHS for a genetic subtype of breast cancer. Professor Workman was instrumental in the early therapeutic discovery programme at the ICR to target the AKT protein molecule. Most recently at the ICR, Professor Workman led the discovery of the first-in-class drug NXP800, which has entered clinical trials for the treatment of ARID1A mutant ovarian cancer. Previously, while at Zeneca (now AstraZeneca) from 1993-97, Professor Workman played an instrumental role in the discovery of one of the earliest precision medicines for cancer – the EGFR inhibitor gefitinib (ZD1839). This was subsequently approved in EGFR mutant non-small cell lung cancer. Alongside his own drug discovery achievements, Professor Workman conceptualised and championed the ‘Pharmacological Audit Trail’ – a framework that has fundamentally changed how new cancer therapies are developed and evaluated. This approach has provided the field with a rigorous method for linking drug mechanism, biomarker development, and clinical benefit, and remains highly influential in modern oncology drug development. In addition, Professor Workman has been a strong advocate for the rigorous use of high-quality chemical ‘probes’ or tools in biological and biomedical research – he was a co-founder of the non-profit, Chemical Probes Portal and has served as its Director from 2018 to date. In addition, he was involved with colleagues in developing other public resources for the benefit of the research community, particularly Probe Miner and canSAR. Professor Workman is currently also the Co-Director of the Cancer Research UK Children's Brain Tumour Centre of Excellence, hosted at the ICR and Cambridge University, in which he conducts chemical biology and prototype drug discovery research directed against hard-to-treat brain cancers in children. His influence extends far beyond his scientific accomplishments. Professor Workman has authored more than 470 research publications, founded successful biotechnology ventures, and received many of the highest honours in science, including election as a Fellow of the Royal Society and Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences. Dr Timothy Yap says that equally important for this new honour is his reputation as an extraordinary mentor and champion of the next generation of scientists. His generosity, encouragement, intellectual rigour, and unwavering support have shaped the careers of countless PhD students, postdoctoral fellows, physician-scientists, and research leaders around the world. He sets the example for collaborative leadership, integrity, and commitment to advancing cancer research for the benefit of patients. The impact of his work can be measured not only in discoveries, publications, and medicines, but also in the many scientists and clinicians he has inspired and trained, and in the lives of patients who have benefited from the therapies he helped bring forward. Image: Professor Paul Workman (left) and Dr Timothy Yap. Dr Timothy Yap undertook a PhD in Molecular Pharmacology in the Division of Cancer Therapeutics from February 2007 to August 2010, led by Professor Paul Workman OBE. Dr Yap left the ICR in 2017 and is now of Professor of Investigational Cancer Therapeutics and Vice President and Head of Clinical Development in the Therapeutics Discovery division at UT MD Anderson. He said: “I’m delighted to congratulate Paul on receiving the Ernst W. Bertner Memorial Award. Paul has made seminal contributions to cancer drug discovery, leading teams in the creation of clinical candidates and approved drugs for targets including EGFR and AKT kinases, PI3 kinase, the molecular chaperone HSP90 and the HSF1 pathway. In addition, Paul’s pioneering work on conceptualising and implementing the Pharmacological Audit Trail has helped transform how new cancer therapies are developed and evaluated. "Beyond his scientific achievements, Paul is an exceptional mentor whose generosity, insight, and steadfast support have shaped the careers of countless PhD students, post-docs, and physician-scientists, including my own.” Professor Paul Workman OBE, Group Leader in the Centre for Cancer Drug Discovery and Harrap Professor of Pharmacology and Therapeutics at The Institute of Cancer Research, London, said: “I’m very honoured and grateful to receive this prestigious award from UT MD Anderson, one of the top cancer research and treatment centres in the world. I am especially pleased that the award citation recognises both my work in the discovery of precision cancer medicines and also my development of the Pharmacological Audit Trail as a framework for cancer drug discovery and clinical development – as well as highlighting the mentoring of trainees and colleagues. “Drug discovery and development is a very much team sport and I would like to dedicate this award to the great many people, both early career researchers and more senior colleagues and collaborators who I’ve had the privilege to work with. My funders and commercial partners have been crucial, and most of all I thank the patients and their families who enabled the clinical trials of the drugs that we discovered.” Professor Workman was presented with the award at the Next Generation Cancer Therapeutics conference, on Tuesday 6 October 2026, where he delivered the keynote address: Advances made over 25 years since the human genome sequence: Progress and challenges for precision medicine discovery The bronze medallion for the award symbolises the twin goals of cancer research: prevention and cure. The hands of Hygeia emerge from a star to hold a bowl from which the serpent, ancient symbol of medical wisdom, is fed. The goddess Hygeia, daughter of Aesculapius, Greco-Roman god of medicine, represents hygiene and prevention of disease. The star denotes both the State of Texas and the Texan for whom the award is named. Banner image: Professor Paul Workman giving his keynote speech. Image credit: UT MD Anderson Cancer Center