Tom Mitchell
About Tom Mitchell
I am a surgeon-scientist in the Department of Surgery, with my research group based at the Early Cancer Institute. We focus on uncovering the molecular changes that drive the initiation & progression of kidney cancer. This work is closely aligned with my clinical role as an Honorary Consultant Urologist at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, where my aim is to improve outcomes for patients living with kidney cancer.
My academic journey began with a Master's & PhD in Engineering Science from the University of Oxford. The research skills I developed during this time have been central to my clinical academic career. As an Academic Clinical Lecturer, I split my time between surgical training in Cambridge & research at the Wellcome Sanger Institute. There, I developed novel methods for interpreting biologically significant patterns in genomic data. My major contributions include identifying the timing of critical events in cancer evolution & contributing the kidney atlas to the Human Cell Atlas project.
In 2018, I was elected Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons & received a Clinician Scientist Award from Cancer Research UK. In January 2025, I was appointed the Krishnan-Ang Distinguished Group Leader. I have lectured widely & published extensively on the genomic drivers of kidney cancer, work that has been recognised with awards from the European Association of Urology & the Kidney Cancer Association.
Project/study information
I explore how inherited & modifiable risk factors influence cells in the tumour microenvironment to improve tumour behaviour prediction & develop strategies for those at risk of kidney cancer. I am supported by the Krishnan-Ang Foundation & the International Alliance for Cancer Early Detection.
Recruitment of PhD / Post doctoral students
The Department of Surgery offers three different research focussed degrees – the MPhil & MChir at Masters Level & beyond that, the PhD.
If you have an idea for a Masters or PhD project & are looking for a supervisor or would like to explore joining my group as a student, please contact me by email, copying in our postgraduate student team: clusterpg@medschl.cam.ac.uk.
If I have a vacancy for a post-doctoral position, it will be advertised on https://www.jobs.cam.ac.uk/.