The MAHSC (Manchester Academic Health Science Centre) inaugural lecture series celebrates the remarkable contributions of our honorary MAHSC clinical chairs. These prestigious honors, awarded by the University of Manchester’s Faculty of Biology, Medicine, and Health, recognise distinguished individuals across Greater Manchester who have demonstrated excellence in research, education, and clinical practice.

This lecture featured Professor Agata Rembielak, a Consultant Clinical Oncologist at The Christie NHS Foundation Trust and a leading expert in radiotherapy and skin cancer treatment. Her extensive contributions to the field, both in research and clinical practice, have earned her one of the University’s highest honors—a MAHSC Chair.

A Journey Across the Globe
Professor Rembielak’s career in clinical oncology began in Poland, where she trained and worked before pursuing fellowships and further research in Australia and Canada. In 2007, she made the UK her home, joining The Christie Hospital in Manchester, where she has continued to advance research and clinical treatment in skin cancer and palliative radiotherapy. Her expertise has led to her authorship of key clinical guidelines, journal editorships, and prestigious speaking invitations at international conferences.

From Childhood Curiosity to Leading Oncology Research
Professor Rembielak opened her lecture with a quote from the renowned Polish scientist and twice Nobel prize winner Maria Skłodowska-Curie: “Nothing in life is to be feared; it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more so that we may fear less.” This quote resonates with her journey, which began in Poland during the 1986 Chernobyl disaster. As a child, she witnessed the tragic consequences of the disaster and fear of unknown. This later transformed into fascination by the science behind radiation, a curiosity that later led her to specialise in radiotherapy and clinical oncology.

Her academic path saw her studying both medicine and medical physics at the Medical University of Silesia and the University of Silesia respectively, where she developed expertise in radiotherapy treatment planning, leading to her PhD. This foundation paved the way for her international training, including clinical research fellowships in Australia and Canada.

Pioneering Advances in Radiotherapy
Professor Rembielak’s career is marked by a series of pioneering contributions. After her fellowship in Melbourne, she returned to Poland, where she was involved in the first application of intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT), a highly precise cancer treatment, in a patient with prostate cancer. A subsequent fellowship at Toronto’s Sunnybrook Hospital allowed her to specialise in brachytherapy, a technique that delivers radiation directly to tumors. She later helped advance this technology in Poland, playing a crucial role in the country’s first brachytherapy procedures in various cancers but also in benign conditions (first world application of intraluminal brachytherapy in renal artery to prevent restenosis).

Upon moving to Manchester, Professor Rembielak continued breaking new ground. She has played a pivotal role at The Christie, particularly in the development of radiotherapy services at its Oldham site. In 2010, she was instrumental in the launch of the UK’s first networked satellite radiotherapy centre, ensuring that patients from north-east part of Greater Manchester had access to state-of-the-art treatment closer to home.

One of her most significant contributions has been the establishment of a rapid access palliative radiotherapy clinic at The Christie in Oldham. This clinic provides same-day consultations and expedited treatment planning for patients with advanced cancer who require urgent radiotherapy. By streamlining processes, the clinic has significantly reduced waiting times, ensuring that patients in palliative care receive timely, compassionate, and effective treatment when they need it most. Her work in this area exemplifies a patient-centered approach to oncology, improving both quality of life and clinical outcomes.

Educator and Research Leader
Beyond her clinical work, Professor Rembielak is a passionate educator. She has led international courses on skin cancer radiotherapy through ESTRO (the European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology) and completed an MA in Clinical Education at Edge Hill University. Her commitment to education ensures that future generations of oncologists are equipped with cutting-edge knowledge and skills.

Currently, she serves as Co-Chief Investigator in the NIHR-funded SCC-AFTER clinical trial, which aims to determine the role of postoperative radiotherapy in high-risk squamous cell cancer of the skin . It is the first this kind of a trial in the world. She is also involved in developing a health-related quality of life module for patients with skin cancer through EORTC Quality of Life Group, addressing the need for more tailored patient-reported outcome measures in clinical trials.

Looking Ahead: The Future of Radiotherapy and Oncology
Professor Rembielak concluded her lecture with another quote from Maria Skłodowska-Curie: “One never notices what has been done; one can only see what remains to be done.” Her work exemplifies this mindset—continuously pushing the boundaries of research, education, and clinical innovation to improve patient outcomes.

She dedicated her lecture to her late friend and colleague, Dr. Tony Woo, an Australian radiation oncologist passionate about skin cancer treatment.

Q&A Highlights
In the Q&A session, Professor Rembielak shared insights into her work, including the global impact of rapid access radiotherapy clinics. She emphasised how international collaboration allows for the exchange of best practices, improving care worldwide. When asked about balancing her extensive research, clinical work, and personal life, she acknowledged the challenges but highlighted the importance of passion, family support, and resilience. Agata said “If we are passionate about something and if we believe in something everything is possible.”