Rate My Professor Dean Fennell

Professor Dean Fennell, FRCP, PhD, is Chair of Thoracic Medical Oncology and Director of the Leicester Mesothelioma Research Programme at the University of Leicester's Leicester Cancer Research Centre. He trained in pharmacology with first-class honours and medicine at University College London, completing specialist training in London. Fennell was supported by an MRC doctoral fellowship and two Cancer Research UK clinician scientist fellowships. His research specializations encompass precision medicine strategies for malignant pleural mesothelioma, a rare asbestos-related cancer, and the study of tumour evolution to identify druggable vulnerabilities. He has designed and led investigator-initiated clinical trials spanning phase I to III, including the MiST precision medicine platform—the first for mesothelioma—and the NERO phase II trial of niraparib, which demonstrated efficacy in relapsed disease. Fennell co-discovered the first actionable epigenetic drug target in mesothelioma, leading two decades later to the first positive phase III trial of a targeted agent in this disease.

Fennell has authored 167 peer-reviewed publications in leading journals such as The Lancet, Nature, New England Journal of Medicine, and Annals of Oncology, amassing over 25,000 citations. Notable works include 'Small-cell lung cancer' (The Lancet, 2011), 'Malignant pleural mesothelioma: ESMO Clinical Practice Guidelines for diagnosis, treatment and follow-up' (Annals of Oncology, 2015), and 'Tremelimumab as second-line or third-line treatment in relapsed malignant mesothelioma (DETERMINE)' (The Lancet Oncology, 2017). His contributions extend to committee roles as past President of the International Mesothelioma Interest Group, past Chair of the NCRI Mesothelioma Clinical Studies Group, and two-term EORTC Board member. He co-authored UK BTS, ESMO, and ERS/ESTS mesothelioma guidelines. Major awards include election as Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences (FMedSci, 2024), IMIG Senior Investigator Medal (2023), and MARF Pioneer Award (2023). Fennell's work has profoundly influenced thoracic oncology, advancing patient outcomes through practice-changing trials and guidelines.