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Richard  Sullivan

Professor Richard Sullivan

Director, Institute of Cancer Policy and Co-Director of the Centre for Conflict & Health Research

Research interests

  • Cancer

Biography

Professor Richard Sullivan's research group studies health systems, particular NCD policy and the impact of conflict on health. He is Professor of Cancer and Global Health at King’s College London, and Director of the Institute of Cancer Policy (ICP) and co-Director of the Conflict and Health Research Group.  As well as holding a number of Visiting Chairs, Richard is an NCD advisor to the WHO, civil-military advisor to Save the Children, and a member of the National Cancer Grid of India His research focuses on global cancer policy and planning, and health systems strengthening, particularly conflict ecosystems. He is principle investigator on research programs ranging from automated radiotherapy planning for low resource settings to use of augmented/virtual reality for cancer surgery, through to political economy to build affordable, equitable cancer control plans. Richard has led five Lancet Oncology Commissions and worked on four others. He is currently co-leading Lancet Oncology commissions on the Future of Cancer Research in Europe and Cancer Care in Conflict. In conflict systems, his research teams have major programs in capacity building in conflict medicine across the Middle East and North Africa (r4hc-mena.org), as well as studies of the basic package of health services in Afghanistan, civil-military co-operation in health security, polio eradication and insecurity in Pakistan, and use of intelligence in high security disease outbreaks.  Professor Sullivan qualified in medicine and trained in surgery (urology), gaining his PhD from University College London. He was also clinical director of Cancer Research UK between 1999 and 2008. Following a period at the London School of Economics working on complex healthcare systems he moved to King’s College London in 2011. 

    Research

    mental health conflict hero
    Centre for Conflict & Health Research

    Cross disciplinary initiative studying the intersection of global health, security, and political governance in conflict-affected fragile states and regions.

    global health
    Institute of Cancer Policy

    The Institute of Cancer Policy brings together global cancer faculty across King’s College London and it’s NHS partner hospitals under Kings’ Health Partners.

    News

    COMMENT: What a Trump presidency means for global health

    Global health is likely to be radically altered with Donald Trump in the White House. For starters, the president-elect has made no secret of his dislike for...

    Donald Trump

    10 cancer challenges facing the new government

    Cancer doctors and experts from King’s and across the UK, have argued there are ten time-critical issues impacting the delivery of cancer care services by the...

    cancer - main

    Global analysis of cancer research papers reveals consistent sex imbalance

    New research analysing female authorship of cancer research papers over a 10 year period has found a consistent sex imbalance, despite a modest increase in...

    cancer research LMIC 780x440

    Multi-billion productivity cost of head and neck cancer revealed

    New research describes a $5.6 billion (USD) loss of productivity from head and neck cancer in India during 2022, emblematic of its rising economic impact...

    Cancer globally

    King's helps build cancer partnerships across Sub-Saharan Africa

    The Global Oncology Group played a major role at this year’s African Organisation for Research and Training in Cancer (AORTIC) in promoting partnerships and...

    Africa

    Leading cancer doctors raise the alarm about “serious missteps” on cancer policy

    The loss of a dedicated National Cancer Control Plan in England and Wales has been a “major misstep” at a time when the NHS is facing massive workforce...

    A patient lies in a hospital bed, their head is out of frame

    2023 Surgery Commission offers solutions to improve cancer surgery outcomes

    King’s academics have collaborated with researchers, doctors and surgeons to make eight recommendations to help improve cancer surgery outcomes across the...

    Surgeons - Image by Sasin Tipchai from Pixabay

    Providing mental health support in peace efforts helps alleviate PTSD and depression

    New study shows group counselling and one -on-one peacebuilding activities improve mental health in Nigeria

    Children in Nigeria impacted by armed conflict

    Study highlights the cancer legacy of the Good Friday Agreement

    New research highlights the health and economic impact of the Good Friday Agreement on cancer across the island of Ireland in the last 25 years.

    Cancer care web

    Oncology drugs estimated to be $1 billion cheaper to develop through a precision approach

    Research and Development costs for targeted oncology drugs are markedly lower if guided by a companion diagnostic strategy, but current biopharmaceutical...

    pharmacy research

    Events

    09Mar

    How do we respond to growing threats to health security?

    Our fifth War Studies at 60 seminar explores how to manage the scale and diversity of health security threats.

    Please note: this event has passed.

    04Jun

    Responses to Covid-19: Mapping intersections between security and health

    Science, Technology & Health panel event for the School of Security Studies Research Conference.

    Please note: this event has passed.

    Features

    Time for the next Government to take cancer seriously

    Every major political party hoping to be elected to government on the 4th of July mentions cancer care in their manifestos. But will their plans be enough to...

    cancer care ukraine

    What impact does war have on Ukrainian cancer care?

    PROFESSOR RICHARD SULLIVAN: The rapid destruction of infrastructure including hospitals has hugely jeopardised treatment for cancer patients.

    cancer care ukraine

    Lebanon on life support: How politics made a nation sick

    A new multi-national research study shows how a long series of politically-driven crises have created a failed state and a public health disaster in Lebanon.

    lebanon-health-systemes

      Research

      mental health conflict hero
      Centre for Conflict & Health Research

      Cross disciplinary initiative studying the intersection of global health, security, and political governance in conflict-affected fragile states and regions.

      global health
      Institute of Cancer Policy

      The Institute of Cancer Policy brings together global cancer faculty across King’s College London and it’s NHS partner hospitals under Kings’ Health Partners.

      News

      COMMENT: What a Trump presidency means for global health

      Global health is likely to be radically altered with Donald Trump in the White House. For starters, the president-elect has made no secret of his dislike for...

      Donald Trump

      10 cancer challenges facing the new government

      Cancer doctors and experts from King’s and across the UK, have argued there are ten time-critical issues impacting the delivery of cancer care services by the...

      cancer - main

      Global analysis of cancer research papers reveals consistent sex imbalance

      New research analysing female authorship of cancer research papers over a 10 year period has found a consistent sex imbalance, despite a modest increase in...

      cancer research LMIC 780x440

      Multi-billion productivity cost of head and neck cancer revealed

      New research describes a $5.6 billion (USD) loss of productivity from head and neck cancer in India during 2022, emblematic of its rising economic impact...

      Cancer globally

      King's helps build cancer partnerships across Sub-Saharan Africa

      The Global Oncology Group played a major role at this year’s African Organisation for Research and Training in Cancer (AORTIC) in promoting partnerships and...

      Africa

      Leading cancer doctors raise the alarm about “serious missteps” on cancer policy

      The loss of a dedicated National Cancer Control Plan in England and Wales has been a “major misstep” at a time when the NHS is facing massive workforce...

      A patient lies in a hospital bed, their head is out of frame

      2023 Surgery Commission offers solutions to improve cancer surgery outcomes

      King’s academics have collaborated with researchers, doctors and surgeons to make eight recommendations to help improve cancer surgery outcomes across the...

      Surgeons - Image by Sasin Tipchai from Pixabay

      Providing mental health support in peace efforts helps alleviate PTSD and depression

      New study shows group counselling and one -on-one peacebuilding activities improve mental health in Nigeria

      Children in Nigeria impacted by armed conflict

      Study highlights the cancer legacy of the Good Friday Agreement

      New research highlights the health and economic impact of the Good Friday Agreement on cancer across the island of Ireland in the last 25 years.

      Cancer care web

      Oncology drugs estimated to be $1 billion cheaper to develop through a precision approach

      Research and Development costs for targeted oncology drugs are markedly lower if guided by a companion diagnostic strategy, but current biopharmaceutical...

      pharmacy research

      Events

      09Mar

      How do we respond to growing threats to health security?

      Our fifth War Studies at 60 seminar explores how to manage the scale and diversity of health security threats.

      Please note: this event has passed.

      04Jun

      Responses to Covid-19: Mapping intersections between security and health

      Science, Technology & Health panel event for the School of Security Studies Research Conference.

      Please note: this event has passed.

      Features

      Time for the next Government to take cancer seriously

      Every major political party hoping to be elected to government on the 4th of July mentions cancer care in their manifestos. But will their plans be enough to...

      cancer care ukraine

      What impact does war have on Ukrainian cancer care?

      PROFESSOR RICHARD SULLIVAN: The rapid destruction of infrastructure including hospitals has hugely jeopardised treatment for cancer patients.

      cancer care ukraine

      Lebanon on life support: How politics made a nation sick

      A new multi-national research study shows how a long series of politically-driven crises have created a failed state and a public health disaster in Lebanon.

      lebanon-health-systemes