Ms Sara Hiom
Following her BSc in genetics from UCL and a period of lab research at the MRC’s NIMR in Mill Hill, Sara has spent 35 years working in various fields of cancer research and policy, working in both public and private sectors, as well as 20 years at Cancer Research UK. Here she instigated the focus on early diagnosis and, from 2005, built the team to become Director of a new department dedicated to data, analysis, community outreach and clinical engagement in this area. Sara worked closely with successive National Clinical Leads for cancer, developing early diagnosis strategies, cancer plans and campaigns and was instrumental in the development of the International Cancer Benchmarking Partnership.
Having been influenced as a teenager by the premature and rapid death from mesothelioma of her father (due to asbestos exposure in the Royal Navy), Sara has always taken a particular interest in lung cancer, its prevention, earlier diagnosis and treatment. She was previously a Trustee of the British Thoracic Oncology Group, BTOG.
During lockdown in October 2020 she joined GRAIL Bio UK Ltd and help set up the 140k-participant NHS-Galleri trial that launched in 2021, exploring the clinical utility of a multi-cancer detection blood test. As Vice President of NHS Engagement and External Affairs she was responsible for all communications, patient information, external affairs and health economics, working closely with NHS England to explore potential delivery routes for an MCED test in the NHS.
Sara left GRAIL in April 2026 in order to travel, walk, garden, cook and explore other projects of interest.
Having been influenced as a teenager by the premature and rapid death from mesothelioma of her father (due to asbestos exposure in the Royal Navy), Sara has always taken a particular interest in lung cancer, its prevention, earlier diagnosis and treatment. She was previously a Trustee of the British Thoracic Oncology Group, BTOG.
During lockdown in October 2020 she joined GRAIL Bio UK Ltd and help set up the 140k-participant NHS-Galleri trial that launched in 2021, exploring the clinical utility of a multi-cancer detection blood test. As Vice President of NHS Engagement and External Affairs she was responsible for all communications, patient information, external affairs and health economics, working closely with NHS England to explore potential delivery routes for an MCED test in the NHS.
Sara left GRAIL in April 2026 in order to travel, walk, garden, cook and explore other projects of interest.