Samuel Smith

Professor Samuel Smith is a Professor of Behavioural Oncology at the University of Leeds, Faculty of Medicine and Health, School of Medicine. He holds the position of Pro-Dean (Research and Innovation) and leads the Behavioural Oncology Research Theme. His work focuses on cancer prevention, intervention optimization, and behavioral science methodologies.

Education: PhD in Psychology from University College London, supervised by Professors Jane Wardle and Christian von Wagner. Postdoctoral training at Northwestern University (Chicago) and Cancer Research UK Fellowship at the Wolfson Institute of Preventive Medicine.

Research interests include medication adherence in breast cancer, decision-making in cancer prevention, and behavioral interventions for weight management. He co-leads trials such as the ACTION trial (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for breast cancer patients) and the We Sure Can trial (diet-based weight loss intervention). He also collaborates on the FINESSE trial (prostate cancer surveillance) and the AsCaP project (aspirin for cancer prevention).

Awards include NIHR Advanced Fellowship (2020-2026), Yorkshire Cancer Research Fellowships, and editorial roles at Cancer Prevention Research and Preventive Medicine Reports. He mentors PhD candidates in cancer prevention and clinical trial design.

Grants and collaborations span international institutions, including the Dana-Farber Cancer Center and Memorial Sloan Kettering. His research integrates quantitative and qualitative methods to address disparities in cancer care and improve patient outcomes.