The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre NHS Foundation Trust has appointed Prof Christian Ottensmeier to the post of Director of Clinical Research.

Prof Ottensmeier, a Consultant in Medical Oncology at The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre and Chair of Immuno-Oncology at the University of Liverpool (UoL), is an internationally recognised researcher into human immune responses to cancer. His current research activity includes a portfolio of trials of new immunotherapies and among these he is the Principal Investigator for the Transgene trial, a first-in-class approach to making personalised therapeutic vaccines for head and neck cancers.

Prof Ottensmeier is also Visiting Professor of Experimental Medicine at the University of Southampton, where he completed his PhD and spent much of his career before joining Clatterbridge, UoL and the Liverpool Head and Neck Centre in August 2020. He also holds an Adjunct Professorship at the La Jolla Institute for Immunology in the USA.

Dr Sheena Khanduri, Medical Director of The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We are delighted that Professor Ottensmeier has taken up the post of Director of Clinical Research. As well as being globally acclaimed as an experimental cancer researcher, he has an immense amount of experience in leading research teams.

“The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre has a reputation for always enhancing services for the benefit of our patients, with cutting-edge research vital to the continual improvement of their treatment, care and outcomes. The appointment of Professor Ottensmeier underpins this and he will be integral to the Research and Innovation Directorate achieving the goals set in our new five-year Research Strategy.”

Prof Ottensmeier succeeds Prof Nagesh Kalakonda, who has spent four years in the role.

Dr Khanduri said: “I would like to thank Professor Kalakonda for his tremendous work, insight and leadership while in the post, which have been especially important during the pandemic and the move to our Liverpool hospital, while also continuing to operate from our Wirral site.

“We have valued his huge contribution to research at Clatterbridge, which has led to a renewed focus on new and expanded clinical trials and important collaborations with our partners within academic institutions and beyond.”

Prof Ottensmeier said: “I am very pleased to be appointed to this prestigious role at The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre and I am greatly looking forward to the opportunities and challenges we face in progressing cancer research and building on Prof Kalakonda’s fantastic legacy.

“It is a privilege to be part of a great research team at Clatterbridge and this role will give me new ways to support my colleagues in the amazing work that they do.”