Professor JA Madrigal, MD PhD FRCP FRPCPath DSc

Prof Madrigal has achieved a huge amount in his 20 years as Scientific Director at Anthony Nolan
Prof Alejandro Madrigal is an internationally respected and influential scientist in the field of stem cell transplantation, and histocompatibility and immunogenetics.

Many recent advances in bone marrow transplantation have depended on his seminal research. Prof Madrigal’s work has impacted on clinical practice, influenced the healthcare industry’s development of new tissue-typing reagents and defined viral and tumour specific targets used worldwide in vaccination and cell therapy.

In recognition of his achievements, Prof Madrigal was elected President of the European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT) in March 2010.

Education

Prof Madrigal began his outstanding medical career in Mexico. He then undertook a World Health Organization Fellowship at Harvard University’s Dana Farber Cancer Institute, followed by a PhD at the Imperial Cancer Research Fund, London. As a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Stanford University he received the Stanford Dean’s Fellowship and a Leukemia Society Fellowship.

Time at Anthony Nolan

Prof Madrigal has led research at Anthony Nolan since 1993. He has been Scientific Director of the Anthony Nolan Research Institute since 1995, and has held the Academic Chair of Haematology at the Royal Free Hospital and University College London (UCL) since 1997.

Prof Madrigal’s work has been recognised worldwide, and he has received several awards and prizes, including the EBMT Stockton Prize and the ASHI International Scholarship Prize.

UCL awarded him a Doctor of Science Degree in 2002. He has been honoured with two Doctor Honoris Causa degrees and many international awards. These include the Ohtli Award from the government of Mexico in 2007 and an Academic Distinction from the National Academy of Medicine in 2008.

In August 2010, Prof Madrigal received a Silver Award from the UK Department of Health, as a public acknowledgment of his expertise and the sustained high quality of his work and contributions to the National Health Service. He is a Fellow of the Royal College of Pathologists and of the Royal College of Physicians, where he represents Mexico as an International Advisor.

In October 2011 he was appointed to the prestigious position of Pro-Provost for the Americas at the University of London.

Anthony Nolan Research Institute

With the support of the charity’s Trustees, Prof Madrigal has achieved a great deal at the Anthony Nolan Research Institute, including:

• Inventing novel techniques that allowed the detection of single nucleotide variations (published in Nature Genetics, PNAS and Immunogenetics). This led to the methods being patented and commercialised as a diagnostic kit. This was an extremely valuable contribution to the histocompatibility and immunogenetics field.

• Leading studies in the outcome of haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), published in Blood and Lancet Oncology, resulting in an ongoing retrospective analysis of the role of HLA matching in the outcome of HSCT. This provided valuable data to aid our knowledge of what are acceptable mismatches.

• Leading studies to understand the role of other non-HLA polymorphisms in the outcome of HSCT.

• Describing tumour and viral specific antigens that are currently used as targets for immunocellular therapy (published in Blood and Journal of Immunology).

• Scientifically defining the optimal number of cord blood units required in the UK to give a high chance of finding a lifesaving unit for every patient in need.

• Obtaining grants to lead a clinical trial to confirm the safety of using GSCF in unrelated donors.

• Leading international projects such as AlloStem and Eurocord, as well as several local and national research projects.

• Currently acting as Co-coordinator of T-Control, a new EU-funded project.

• Directing the Anthony Nolan Round Table Laboratories and participating in the establishment of innovative methods for tissue-typing and donor selection.

• Directing the Anthony Nolan cord blood programme. In collaboration with the late Prof Anthony Dodi and the late Steve McEwan (Anthony Nolan’s Chief Executive), raising funds from the East Midlands Development Agency and negotiating with Nottingham Trent University to build and establish the Anthony Nolan Cell Therapy Centre on their site.

• Authoring/co-authoring over 250 papers in key, peer-reviewed publications with more than 5,000 citations in the scientific literature.

• Teaching and training students and visiting scientists from around the world. 

Looking for more information?

Email Prof Madrigal at alejandro.madrigal ( at ) anthonynolan.org