Professor Alan Clarke

It is with great sadness that we learnt of the untimely death of Professor Alan Clarke.

Professor Clarke died suddenly over the Christmas and New Year period whilst walking with his dog.

Professor Clarke was one of the UK’s leading figures in cancer research. He was instrumental in establishing the University’s European Cancer Stem Cell Research Institute of which he was the Director. He was also Director of Research in the School of Biosciences and the Director of the Cancer Research UK Cardiff Centre.

Professor Clarke's main research interest was in the molecular basis of cancer. His research focused on modelling intestinal, breast and prostate tumours and the ability to use these to study the relationship between normal stem cells and cancer stem cells, and how these different cell populations contribute to tumorigenesis.

He also had a track record in preclinical testing of new drugs for breast cancer which, under his leadership, was extended to intestinal and prostate tumours.

Professor Jim Murray, Head of the School of Biosciences said: “The sudden and untimely death of Professor Alan Clarke will be felt by all of us who knew him and the wider scientific community.

“He was an invaluable colleague, a patient and thoughtful mentor, and an outstanding scientist and leader.

“At this tragic time our thoughts are with his family, friends and close colleagues.”

Written tributes to Professor Clarke are being collated. To submit a tribute, please e-mail: AlanClarkeTributes@cardiff.ac.uk