"Yorkshire must nurture the next generation of cancer research leaders for the benefit of everyone in the region"

Leeds has a rich legacy of medical breakthroughs, but for James Platt, it was the city’s commitment to growing the next generation of cancer researchers that drew him back to his home county of Yorkshire in 2020.

With a master’s degree in oncology and two years of clinical experience under his belt, James, originally from Doncaster, was eager to begin a clinical research career and deepen his interest in colon cancer.

Now 31, James is a Clinical Research Fellow at the University of Leeds and Specialty Registrar in Medical Oncology at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. He works as part of a team of cancer experts bringing ground-breaking bowel cancer trials to people in Yorkshire, and beyond. 

James works under the leadership of Professor Jenny Seligmann, a Consultant Medical Oncologist and Professor of Gastrointestinal Oncology at the University of Leeds. Jenny is chief investigator of two international clinical trials funded by Yorkshire Cancer Research – FOxTROT 2 and FOxTROT 3. From their first meeting, James was struck by the cutting-edge work her team was delivering, and knew he wanted to be part of it.

Delivered at hospitals across Yorkshire and beyond, the FOxTROT 2 and FOxTROT 3 trials aim to cure more people from bowel cancer and ensure they have access to the best possible treatments.

People with bowel cancer usually undergo surgery first to remove the tumour, followed by chemotherapy to eliminate any remaining cancer cells. Findings from a previous trial, FOxTROT 1, showed that giving part of the chemotherapy before surgery can reduce the risk of the cancer coming back.  

FOxTROT 2 and 3 build on this approach and apply it in different ways to ensure the treatment is personalised to the patient’s needs. The FOxTROT 2 trial is testing whether elderly and frail people may also benefit from receiving chemotherapy before surgery while the FOxTROT 3 trial is exploring whether giving younger, fitter people stronger chemotherapy prior to surgery will improve outcomes. These important studies are already having global impact and are expected to save many lives. 

James said: "We have a fantastic team of cancer experts working together to bring these innovative trials to people in Yorkshire and beyond. Not only are we seeing success in our region, but hospitals across the country are also doing fantastically well, bringing the FOxTROT trials to more people. FOxTROT 2 is also now running in France and India. It shows that research started in our region can have national and global impact.”

Recent analysis from Yorkshire Cancer Research shows that people in Yorkshire are more likely to be told about research opportunities, including clinical trials, during their cancer care than almost anywhere else in England. In Yorkshire, 49.5% of people reported having cancer research opportunities discussed with them, which is higher than the national average of 45.8%.¹

According to the 2024 National Cancer Patient Experience Survey, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust had the highest proportion of people in Yorkshire who had research opportunities discussed with them, ranking 11th nationally.

This progress in Leeds is only possible thanks to clinical academic researchers, including James, who play a vital role in bringing innovative research into the real world, so people with cancer have access to life-changing research opportunities.

Yet, sustaining this progress depends on the people behind it - and the numbers of clinical academics are falling. A recent Medical Research Council report found a 6% drop in clinical academics across the UK between 2012 and 2022. Yorkshire and the Humber saw the greatest decline at 25.6%, more than any other region in England. Whilst the number of clinical academics across the UK have recovered slightly in 2024, there has been a slower recovery in the number of posts in Yorkshire.

This drop is particularly concerning given the size and need of Yorkshire’s population. The region represents nearly 8% of the UK’s population but receives only 5% of health research funding. This means fewer people in the region can benefit from the opportunity to trial innovative new treatments and access life-saving research. 

James said: “I know it’s challenging – other regions of the country receive substantially more research funding. But Yorkshire has huge potential. It’s already home to so many bright minds and with greater funding and the right resources, even more will choose to build their careers here.”

James said: “Of course, greater investment in Yorkshire’s research is vital, but creating the right environment for researchers to thrive is just as important. To attract and retain the next generation of cancer experts, we need high-quality training, mentorship and long-term support.”

For the past two years, James has chaired an academic trainee group to help expand and improve training opportunities for emerging cancer researchers. 

Yorkshire Cancer Research funds £64m of cancer research and services, giving 175,000 people the opportunity to take part. The charity works with 710 researchers and cancer experts, including James, bringing vital expertise and knowledge to Yorkshire.  

In 2023, Yorkshire Cancer Research also began funding James’s doctorate. For three years, he will focus full-time on research, looking at innovative ways to use bowel cancer scans and imaging techniques to improve cancer treatment and care.

James said: “Leeds’s expertise in gastrointestinal oncology has always stood out to me, so I feel incredibly fortunate to now be part of this thriving research area. Working in Professor Seligmann’s group helped cultivate my passion for bowel cancer, and more importantly, it has shown me how research is making a difference to people’s lives.”

Reflecting on the impact of his work with Yorkshire Cancer Research, he concluded: “I’d like to thank all Yorkshire Cancer Research supporters, who have made it possible for us to conduct research and run clinical trials. The charity’s work in the treatment of bowel cancer is just one example of so many success stories across its 100-year history. Thanks to the charity, more people in Yorkshire can take part in world-leading research that will improve outcomes and save lives.”  

1 NHS England (2025). National Cancer Patient Experience Survey 2024: National Results. Published 19 August 2025. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/national-cancer-patient-experience-survey-ncpes-2024