David Adams wins Royal College of Pathologists Leadership Award
Congratulations to Dr David Adams, newly appointed Head of the Somatic Genomics Programme at the Wellcome Sanger Institute, who has been named the winner of the Leadership Award at the 2026 Royal College of Pathologists (RCPath) Achievement Awards.
The RCPath Achievement Awards were established to celebrate excellence in pathology practice and to promote high standards in research, education, and training to deliver the best possible patient care. The Leadership Award is specifically granted to a leader who provides direction, support and inspiration, while developing a positive culture that improves their team’s services.
At the Sanger Institute, Dave leads a research programme focused on understanding the genetic causes of cancer. His contributions to the field of cancer genetics are extensive, including the discovery of genes that increase the risk of inherited skin cancer.1 He has also developed innovative tools that allow scientists to systematically test the effects of genetic mutations – work that is currently reshaping how cancer risk is defined and identifying new targets for treatment.
Beyond his scientific discoveries, Dave provides strategic leadership across the Somatic Genomics Programme. He is also deeply committed to developing the next generation of scientific leaders, having supervised over 40 PhD students and postdoctoral fellows, many of whom now hold senior positions in medicine, industry, and academia.
A recognised leader in the global scientific community, Dave has authored over 400 publications. He chairs various scientific advisory boards and has co-founded the Atlas of Variant Effects Alliance, which aims to understand the effects of genetic variation on human health, helping to shape the direction of cancer genetics research globally.
“I am honoured to be recognised by the Royal College of Pathologists with this Leadership Award. I am incredibly proud of my team and thankful to all the inspiring people I’ve been lucky enough to collaborate with over the years. I look forward to continuing working together to uncover the genetic causes of cancer and improve outcomes for patients.”
Dr David Adams, Senior Group Leader and Head of the Somatic Genomics Programme at the Wellcome Sanger Institute
More information
- C. D. Robles-Espinoza. et al. (2014) POT1 loss-of-function variants predispose to familial melanoma. Nature Genetics. DOI: 10.1038/ng.2947
