David Crosby, PhD is head of Prevention and Early Detection research at Cancer Research UK (CRUK).  He also works part-time for the UK government, advising the Office for Life Sciences on the UK’s Cancer Mission. After training in pharmacology and periods in academia and industry, he joined the UK government research funding agency, the Medical Research Council. Now at CRUK he is now developing and implementing a new strategy and programme of research investments which aims to accelerate progress towards earlier detection and prevention of cancer, through an integrated multidisciplinary approach, driven by equitable improvements in health outcomes.