World Cancer Research Fund International (WCRF) has appointed Professor Elio Riboli as its Medical and Scientific Advisor.

Professor Riboli’s role will see him Chair a newly convened Science Executive Committee for the international charity.

WCRF International is a leading authority on the links between diet, nutrition, weight and physical activity and cancer. It engages regularly with the World Health Organization (WHO) and works with partners globally to promote policies that prevent cancer and other non-communicable diseases.

The Science and Executive Committee will advise on research progress, emerging trends in research, dissemination of outputs, policy implications and opportunities for leverage with stakeholders and partners.

As International Medical and Scientific Advisor, Professor Riboli will focus on the development of a forward-looking research and public health strategy to drive WCRF’s endeavours over the next decade.

On the announcement of his new position Professor Elio Riboli said: “Having worked closely with WCRF International over many years, I’ve long appreciated the charity’s unique and pioneering role in building the scientific evidence supporting the complex role that diet, nutrition, obesity and physical activity have in cancer causation and prevention.

“The newly established committee will support the WCRF Board in identifying strategies that will further advance our knowledge on cancer causes. At the same time, we will support the translation of this evidence into ambitious societal and public health actions and interventions, aimed at reducing the growing burden of cancer worldwide.”
“It will be a privilege as Chair of the Science Executive Committee to work closely with the WCRF Board to jointly explore how best to support the development of effective primary and secondary cancer prevention over the next decade.”
Professor Elio Riboli is Chair in Cancer Epidemiology and Prevention at the School of Public Health at Imperial College London. Elio was Director of the School of Public Health for more than 10 years. He is also Founding Director of the Cancer Epidemiology and Prevention Research Unit, jointly established by Imperial College and the Institute for Cancer Research.

Before coming to Imperial, he worked at the International Agency for Research on Cancer of WHO where he initiated ground-breaking research on the role of diet, nutrition and metabolic health in cancer causation and prevention. He designed and led the establishment of the largest international population cohort studies on nutrition and cancer, the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) that recruited over half-a-million participants with rich phenotyping data and blood samples stored in the first dedicated large-scale population biobank

Dr Giota Mitrou, Director of Research, Policy and Innovation at WCRF International, co-chairs the Committee. She said: “Professor Riboli is one of the world’s eminent leaders in cancer epidemiology and prevention. We are delighted that he is joining WCRF as our Medical and Scientific Advisor.”

“His input will be vital to build on the success of our funded research through our grant programmes and the series of our Global Expert Reports on diet, nutrition and physical activity in relation to cancer prevention and survival with the ultimate aim of strengthening our science strategy, explore new directions and translate evidence into policy.”

Imperial’s School of Public Health and WCRF International have enjoyed a close and productive relationship with the School leading WCRF’s Global Cancer Update Programme for the past 15 years.