Mark Lawler

Mark is an internationally renowned scientist whose work has been recognised by numerous national/international awards. He is Associate Director of Health Data Research Wales-Northern Ireland and Scientific Director of DATA-CAN, the UK’s National Health Data Research Hub for Cancer. He is Chair of the International Cancer Benchmarking Partnership, an international collaborative employing data-driven approaches to improve outcomes for cancer patients. He is the Health Lead for the Global Innovation Institute, a £43Million programme of the Belfast Region City Deal. He is passionate about the use of data to provide the intelligence that underpins better care for our patients. 

Mark has a strong commitment to patient-centred research/care and to addressing cancer inequalities. He was architect of the European Cancer Patient's Bill of Rights, launched in the European Parliament on World Cancer Day 2014. The Bill of Rights  received The 2018 European Health Award, a prestigious award for partnerships that yield real health impact in Europe.  Mark’s work on addressing inequalities formed the centrepiece in the development by the European Cancer Organisation (E.C.O) of the  European Code of Cancer Practice, launched (virtually) with EU Health and Food Safety Commissioner Stella Kyriakides in Brussels (September 2020). Mark is a member of the Board of E.C.O and a member of the Scientific Advisory Committee of the European Cancer Patient Coalition. 

Mark’s work on Covid-19 and its impact on cancer services and cancer patients has received international acclaim. He co-chairs E.C.O’s Special Focussed Network on  Covid-19 and cancer, which launched its 7-Point plan to Build Back Smarter from Covid. He presented data on Covid’s impact on cancer in Europe to the Europe Beating Cancer Committee in the European Parliament and launched E.C.O’s pan European Time To Act Campaign to ensure that Covid-19 does not stop us from tackling cancer.  This work received the prestigious Royal College of Physicians Excellence in Patient Care Award. 

In 2021, Mark received the Irish Association for Cancer Research’s Outstanding Contribution to cancer research award, for his pioneering work on cancer research and cancer care on the island of Ireland.