Professor Anna Schuh is an internationally recognized leader in haematology and molecular diagnostics. As Director of Molecular Diagnostics and Honorary Consultant Haematologist at Oxford University NHS Trust, she has shaped both clinical practice and research in cancer genomics. Her research centers on identifying and validating genetic markers of disease progression in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) and B-cell malignancies, utilizing advanced techniques such as whole genome sequencing and single-cell analysis. She leads major clinical trials, including OXPLORED and STELLAR, and has pioneered the development and implementation of liquid biopsy technologies for early cancer detection and minimal residual disease monitoring.
Professor Schuh’s group collaborates with the biotechnology sector to advance deep genome sequencing and novel methylation analyses, and she directs an NIHR-funded global health programme in East Africa evaluating liquid biopsies in the diagnosis of EBV-positive Burkitt’s lymphoma. Appointed Professor at the University of Oxford in 2014, she has led over 50 clinical trials in CLL, many of which have directly influenced treatment guidelines worldwide. She is also the founder of the Oxford Molecular Diagnostics Centre and established Oxford’s multidisciplinary MSc in Precision Cancer Medicine, which attracts students globally.
With over 150 peer-reviewed publications, an h-index of 50, and more than 8,000 citations since 2017, Professor Schuh’s academic impact is substantial. She holds a patent in non-invasive prenatal diagnostics, has co-founded two biotechnology start-ups, and founded Seren, a social enterprise improving access to DNA-based diagnostics in sub-Saharan Africa. Since 2019, she has also contributed to haematology training and research at Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences in Tanzania, where she supervises MSc and PhD students. Professor Schuh’s career exemplifies the integration of innovative research, clinical excellence, and global health leadership.