Professor Richard Sullivan
Director
Richard Sullivan is Professor of Cancer and Global Health at King’s College London and Director of the Institute of Cancer Policy. He is one of the world’s foremost authorities on cancer policy in low- and middle-income countries, and has played a leading role in shaping the global policy response to the cancer burden in resource-constrained settings.
Richard has led Lancet Commissions on global surgery, childhood cancer, and cancer care in Latin America. He advises the WHO on non-communicable disease policy, serves on the advisory board of Save the Children’s global health programme, and is a member of the Steering Committee of the National Cancer Grid of India.
His research spans health systems analysis, cancer financing, workforce development, and the intersection of conflict, displacement, and cancer care. He has published more than 300 peer-reviewed papers and is a frequent contributor to global policy processes including the UN High-Level Meeting on NCDs and the World Health Assembly.
In 2025, Richard was named among The 100 Most Influential People in Oncology by The Oncologist.
Selected publications
- Sullivan R et al. (2026). Bridging the cancer treatment gap in sub-Saharan Africa. BMJ Global Health.
- Sullivan R et al. (2025). State of Cancer Policy: global inequities and the path forward. ICP Annual Report.
- Sullivan R et al. (2022). Cancer care in conflict settings: a Lancet Oncology Commission. Lancet Oncology.