Sam Janes 

Medical Training

I trained in medicine at Charing Cross and Westminster Medical School and completed my MBBS and BSc degrees.  I went on to train as a respiratory physician in the North West Thames region of London working in five of London's hospitals including Harefield transplant centre, Hammersmith and St Mary's Hospital.  I completed an MSc (Distinction) at the Royal Brompton.

Research Training

While at Hammersmith, I became progressively more interested in cancer biology and then joined Fiona Watt's laboratory as an MRC Training Fellow at the then Imperial Cancer Research Fund labs at Lincoln's Inn Fields - now CRUK London Research Institute.  Here I completed a PhD on the role of integrin cell adhesion molecules and their control of apoptosis and differentiation.  I went on to perform an 18 month CRUK post-doctoral period with Fiona and then won an MRC Clinician Scientist Fellowship to start my own group with Geoff Laurent's Centre for Respiratory Research.  My Laboratory focus became the role of stem cells in lung disease pathogenesis and treatments.

Current Research

In 2011, I won my first Wellcome Senior Fellowship in Clinical Science and then a renewal in 2015. This funding underpins my laboratory.  Other funders of my work include the MRC, ESPRC, NIHR, Rosetrees Trust, Roy Castle Lung Foundation and CRUK.  In 2012, I formed the Lungs for Living patient information and fund raising group based within UCLH Charitable Foundation and launched the Lungs for Living Research Centre focussing on researching early lung cancer and the role of stem cells in its formation and treatments. In 2015 I became Head of the Respiratory Research Department named 'UCL Respiratory' consisting of three academic Centres including the Lungs for Living centre. My research focus is on lung cancer pathogenesis and the development of novel therapies to treat both early and late stage disease. I now lead on four clinical trials, two diagnostic and two therapeutic aiming to improve lung cancer patient outcomes.

Clinical Work

I work as a Consultant in Respiratory Medicine with and interest in Lung Cancer and interventional bronchoscopy.   I am Director of Lung Cancer for North Central and North East London (London Cancer) with the remit to diagnose lung cancer earlier, improve survival and patient experience. I am Vice-Chair of the National Clinical Reference Group for Lung Cancer.