Professor Richard Gilbertson, FRS, FMedSci, FRCP, EMBO has been chosen as the next Master by the Fellows of Gonville & Caius College. He is due to take office on October 1, 2025, following the retirement of Professor Pippa Rogerson.

At a meeting on June 26, the Fellows of the College  expressed their intention to pre-elect Professor Gilbertson, a paediatric oncology clinician scientist, as the 44th Master of the College in an appointment warmly welcomed by Fellows, students and staff.

Professor Gilbertson is the Li Ka Shing Chair and Head of Department of Oncology at the University of Cambridge and Director of CRUK Cambridge Centre. His research focuses on understanding the link between disordered development and the multiple different brain tumour types observed in children. He is currently a Fellow of St John’s College, Cambridge.

Professor Gilbertson said: “Gonville & Caius College is a tremendous academic institution with a remarkable history of impact that has changed the world for the better. I am both delighted and humbled to be joining the College as Master next year. 

“The future holds many opportunities and challenges for the College and I look forward to working with the entire Caius community to build on the achievements of my predecessors. I have been struck by the commitment, brilliance and warmth of the students, Fellows and staff I have met already and I am excited to be joining such a diverse community as together we continue the College's legacy of impactful, academic excellence.”

The President, Professor Peter Robinson, said: “I wish to congratulate Richard on his success and thank the candidates who made the selection process highly competitive.

“I wish to thank the many Fellows, staff members, students and alumni who enabled the smooth running of the election process.”

In accordance with the College statutes, the binding vote by the College's Governing Body to pre-elect Professor Gilbertson will take place next May, followed by admission as Master in October 2025.

Professor Rogerson announced in January her intention to retire, having become the College’s first female Master in October 2018.