Professor Adel Samson

Professor Samson is a Clinician Scientist and Medical Oncology Specialist in immunotherapies and liver cancers. He leads a portfolio of translational oncolytic virus clinical trials. He also leads the Translational Cancer Immunotherapy Group. Professor Samson studied medicine and intercalated in Genetics at the University of Leeds. Upon graduation in 2006, he undertook an Academic Oncology Foundation Programme and Core Medical Training in Yorkshire, followed by an Academic Clinical Fellowship to train in Medical Oncology. Professor Samson completed a CRUK-funded laboratory PhD in 2015 entitled ‘Causative and Therapeutic Viruses in Liver Cancer’, after which he undertook a 3-year period of post-doctoral research as an NIHR Academic Clinical Lecturer. In 2018 Professor Samson took up his first PI post as a University Academic Fellow and an Honorary Consultant Medical Oncologist, specialising in hepatocellular carcinoma and early phase clinical trials.

Professor Samson's clinical interests include hepatocellular carcinoma; immunotherapy; oncolytic viruses; oncogenic viruses; immunology; pre-clinical cancer research and translational clinical trials.

Professor Samson's research interests include: • Oncolytic virus based immunotherapy clinical trials • Rationally designed oncolytic virus-based immunotherapies for hepatocellular carcinoma. • Vaccination strategies for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma • Personalised anti-viral immunotherapies for hepatitis B and C virus-associated hepatocellular carcinoma. • Drug-radiotherapy combinations for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Professor Samson supervises several PhD students and also teaches MSc students in immunology, cancer biology and translational medicine.

Professor Samson has published in widely reviewed peer journals.

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Professor Samson has undertaken supervision and mentorship of colleagues and students, including laboratory and clinical trial staff supervision, PhD student supervision and non-PhD postgraduate supervision. Professor Samson is also mentor to academic oncology trainees.