Robert Metcalf

Dr. Robert Metcalf is an Honorary Researcher at the University of Manchester and Consultant Medical Oncologist at The Christie Hospital, specializing in Head and Neck Cancers and Salivary Gland Cancers, particularly Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma (ACC). He earned an MBChB (2004) and BSc in Health Care Ethics and Law (2004) from the University of Manchester, followed by MRCP (2007) and a PhD (2016) focusing on circulating tumor cells and lung cancer models under Prof. Caroline Dive. His post-doctoral research at the Lydia Becker Institute under Prof. Tracy Hussell explored tumor immunology in Head and Neck Cancers.

Current roles include leading the UK’s efforts in Salivary Gland Cancer research via the International Rare Cancers Initiative (IRC) and co-chairing the IRC’s Salivary Gland Cancer Working Group. He leads the Ella Project, a grant-funded initiative investigating tumor-immune interactions in ACC to develop new immunotherapies. His work is supported by grants from Manchester Cancer Research Centre (NIHR, Cancer Research UK), The Christie Charity, and the Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma Research Foundation.

Research focuses on genomic alterations in ACC (e.g., MYB-NFIB fusion genes) and tumor-immune dynamics. Collaborations span institutions like EORTC, US National Cancer Institute, and the IRC. Projects include exploring NOTCH pathway activation and TP53 mutations in ACC progression, and clinical trials evaluating Lenvatinib/Pembrolizumab combinations for HNSCC.

Key grants include £1.5M from NIHR for precision oncology and £1M from The Christie Charity for the Ella Project. He actively supervises PhD students and advises on translational research pipelines.