Dr Rippon was appointed CEO of Worldwide Cancer Research in 2016 after four years as Director of Research, overseeing the strategic delivery of the charity’s multi-million-pound global programme of pioneering cancer research.
Awarded a PhD in 2002 for research into prostate cancer, Dr Rippon started her career as a postdoctoral fellow at Imperial College London, working in the new and blossoming field of tissue engineering. There she authored some of the earliest scientific papers on the potential of embryonic stem cells for lung regeneration.
Moving to the third sector in 2008, Dr Rippon ran the medical research programmes of Age UK and Prostate Cancer UK, developing in-depth knowledge of research funding strategy and policy, the evaluation of research impact, science communication and public engagement.
As CEO of Worldwide Cancer Research, Dr Rippon leads a small charity with immense ambition – to end cancer by starting new cures worldwide. Since 1979, Worldwide Cancer Research has invested £200 million in 2,000 research projects across 35 countries. By funding fresh new cancer research ideas with the potential to make breakthrough discoveries - wherever they are to be found - the charity sows the seeds of future cancer cures. This is only possible thanks to the charity’s Curestarter community of supporters who donate so kindly and generously.
In her spare time, Dr Rippon is a keen veg-grower, avid Yorkshire Tea drinker and took up watercolour painting during lockdown. At weekends she can be found running up and down hills, and last year she raced two marathons in a week to raise funds for Worldwide Cancer Research.
Helen Rippon