The overarching goal of clinical development is to leverage research work to create cancer treatments that are personalised, effective and more affordable.
Jayant Rane, our next pathbreaker, Clinical Oncologist at University College London Hospitals, divides his time between clinical practice and cancer research.
Jayant talks to Shyam Krishnamurthy from The Interview Portal about viewing cancer as one whole system, instead of breaking it down into separate, unrelated cell parts, which could lend a new perspective to treatments !
For students, have a clear goal. Simply earning a degree won’t guarantee a job . Know what you are doing, why you’re doing it, what you want to achieve, and plan your steps carefully.
Jayant, can you share your background with our young readers?
I started my journey in a small village at the foothills of the Satapuda mountains in Maharashtra. I spent most of my childhood outdoors, playing marbles, gilly-danda, badminton, and cricket with friends all over the village. Even though I grew up in a rural area, the culture at home and in school was incredibly supportive when it came to education.
My parents were high-school teachers. They faced financial challenges growing up but still managed to earn 10 degrees between them, including a PhD! They believed strongly in giving local children the right kind of support from an early age, so they chose to work at a school in our native place. They never forced me or my brother into anything, but instead gently guided us to explore whatever interested us.
I wasn’t an all-rounder really; I mostly focused on academics. In fact, I was pretty shy as a kid. But doing well in scholarship exams, the Maharashtra talent search exams, and making it onto the Maharashtra board merit list in 10th standard boosted my confidence. This success encouraged me to explore more of my personality and discover new interests along the way. Therefore at least until 10th standard, I had very broad interests.
At the end of my 10th standard year, I started thinking seriously about my career. I had done really well in the Maharashtra board exams and was invited to a special symposium with other top students at the National Chemical Laboratory (NCL), Pune. There, we got to meet and listen to national and international leaders in amazing fields. I was fascinated by astrophysics and genetics during the event, and I hoped to focus on those areas. Astrophysics, in particular, was my first love! But, I wasn’t sure how to explore it just yet. So, even though I loved it, I decided to follow a more common path first: studying medicine and then moving toward genetics research.
What did you do for graduation/post graduation?
I began my medical journey at Grant Medical College in Mumbai, where I studied MBBS. Those were some of the most important years of my life. Living in the hostel, getting involved in student politics, and taking part in extracurricular activities helped me become more confident and develop my leadership skills. I also made friendships that will last a lifetime!
Even with all the fun, I stayed focused on academics. Then, I moved to the UK to pursue a Master’s by Research (MRes) and a PhD in genetics. During that time, I became really passionate about cancer research and decided to specialize in cancer as a clinician in the UK.
MRes at Bath introduced me to how cells from the same tissue type can behave differently in different contexts, I became interested in this from cancer perspective. Perhaps this differential behavior of cells is responsible for some cancer cells responding to cancer treatments and some not. If we understand the mechanism underlying this, then we can develop better treatment options for cancer. So, I made this as my aim to investigate in my future PhD project. Fortunately, I found such a position in York where I investigated cellular hierarchy in prostate cancer and how it can influence treatment response.
I switched back to clinical medicine and joined an academic clinical training program to continue both my clinical and research training. In the process, I have earned Membership of Royal College of Physicians (MRCP) and Fellowship of Royal College of Radiologists (FRCR) in clinical oncology. Now, I’m almost done with my training. It’s been more than 20 years since I started, and although I’ve faced many challenges, I wouldn’t change a thing about this journey.
What were some of the key influences that led you to such an offbeat, unconventional, and unique career in Oncology?
That introduction to genetics at the end of 10th standard in NCL was a real game-changer for me. My family’s support was always there, forming the foundation for everything I did. Excelling at MBBS in Mumbai, despite coming from a small village, gave me huge confidence and a “devil may care” attitude. I wasn’t afraid to reach out to people I didn’t know—whether from top Indian institutes or abroad—to learn about post-MBBS research options. Being a bit naïve about the challenges of going abroad for an integrated clinical and research career actually worked in my favour!
I was also fortunate to receive scholarships from the Narottam Sekhsaria Foundation, JN Tata Endowment, and Bharat Petroleum. Without their support, it would have been incredibly difficult to take my first step toward doing a Master’s in the UK (It was expensive!). After that, each step felt a bit less daunting. Along the way, I made it a point to find mentors—and they didn’t have to be in my exact field. It’s normal to feel lost sometimes in your career or life, and having someone you can openly talk to and trust for feedback is absolutely vital.
How did you plan the steps to get into the career you wanted? Or how did you make a transition to a new career? Tell us about your career path
My career journey has three main steps. First, I moved from clinical medicine in India to genetics research in the UK. Second, I needed to secure a PhD fellowship. Third, I switched back to clinical medicine in the UK after spending seven years purely on research.
Right from the start, I knew I wanted to do research in clinical genetics after my MBBS. I looked into courses at IITs, NCBS, TIFR, and others, but none offered a direct link between research and clinical practice. So, I decided to look abroad. There was no set path, so I had to depend on new sources of information. I spent hours searching online for programs in English-speaking countries and reached out to experts with personalized emails. About 10% replied, which was enough to keep me going! In the end, I took a chance on a course that felt right for me.
Next came the challenge of finding a fully funded PhD as an international student in the UK—this was especially tough after the 2008 crash. I was very clear about what I wanted from my PhD and didn’t want to compromise. That meant broadening my search beyond the UK. I had interviews in Germany and offers from the USA, but I eventually found a European Union-funded Marie-Curie fellowship in the UK that suited my goals perfectly. During my PhD, I studied how cells from the same organ can act differently in normal development and in cancer. I did two postdoctoral fellowships to explore specific parts of this research.
How did you get your first break?
Over time, though, I realized much of the academic work I was doing felt distant from real clinical practice, and I was losing my focus on translational research. That’s why I decided to return to medical training and combine clinical practice with research in oncology.
This was a big move. I had never practiced medicine in the UK, and I hadn’t seen patients for seven years. I found a special fellowship, the Chain-Florey fellowship at Imperial College London, that supports clinicians returning to medicine after a long research break. It was exactly what I needed, and without it, I couldn’t have made the transition back. Once I got back into clinical work, I realized my CV was quite unique. I stayed focused on my goals and was able to continue both clinical and research training in oncology at top institutes.
In my research journey thus far, I did not explore a single cancer theme. For example, my research focused on how non-genetic changes can be inherited in a worm called c.elegance (MRC LMS London). However, working in such diverse areas helped me to bring cross disciplinary ideas into oncology, which I explored as my primary interest at UCL and the Francis Crick institute.
Now, I’m preparing for the next challenge: starting my consultant practice. I’ll need to balance several activities at work with personal ambitions and family life. But I am excited to see what lies ahead.
What were some of the challenges you faced? How did you address them?
Challenge 1: Being comfortable in new environments: This was and has been a particular challenge of mine. As an introvert, I am quietly confident with myself. But in this collaborative and mobile world, it is essential to build new friendships. These relationships do not have to be true friendships. Identifying a common discussion theme to get conversations started helps me.
Challenge 2: Managing work-life balance: There are personal, social, and cultural aspects of an individual. Then comes a close family and friend circle. It is essential to define your values upfront and make a clear daily, weekly and annual plan to achieve them. DO NOT underestimate the value of clear planning.
Challenge 3: Managing personal interests and ambitions through financial insecurities: At times, I had no job in hand. I knew I needed a job to achieve financial security in a foreign country. But I always made sure that I did not take any opportunity just because I needed something to pay my bills. I think being ready for such an eventuality and thinking about it in advance, being confident in my abilities and some luck carried me through this.
Where do you work now?
I presently work at the University College London, and University College London Hospitals in London UK. I divide my time between clinical and research work. This dual work allows me to identify challenges that patients face in clinical practice and then explore ways to address them through my research. It gives me immense satisfaction to do this. It also breaks the monotony of a job with a single focus. However, it does demand a lot more time.
I am focusing on cancer in general now but will focus on gastro-intestinal cancers specifically going forward. The cancer landscape is evolving where more and more younger people are being diagnosed with cancer. These people respond poorly to available treatment compared to older people diagnosed with the same type of cancer. I will explore this challenge of why younger and fitter people respond poorly and whether we should think about treating them differently.
How does your work benefit society?
My main goal in clinical and research work is to create cancer treatments that are both more effective and more affordable. I believe the best way to do this is by viewing cancer as one whole system, instead of breaking it down into separate, unrelated cell parts. Sometimes, we might be able to repurpose existing generic drugs to target these often-overlooked yet crucial steps in how cancer starts and grows. Of course, not every treatment can be made cheaper, because some of them will require risky and expensive efforts to develop. However, by continuing to explore all possibilities, we can work toward better and more accessible cancer care.
Tell us an example of a specific memorable work you did that is very close to you!
While doing my MBBS in Mumbai, I used to volunteer with local NGOs to provide health assessment services to nearby rural schools on a periodic basis. I have seen how even very common health conditions were not getting treated appropriately due to lack of access to health care or limited finances. One of the basic aims of my research therefore is to make things affordable while improving health awareness. To achieve this, I regularly participate in patient and public health education programs as well. And I am keen to build on this interest going forward.
Your advice to students based on your experience?
- Seek friends and mentors: They help you understand yourself. It is the most essential information you will ever need.
- Don’t be afraid: You’ll never know everything. Sometimes you have to trust your instincts and learn as you go—and that’s perfectly okay. Do not wait for a perfect opportunity.
- Studying abroad: Have a clear goal. Simply earning a foreign degree won’t guarantee a job abroad or at home. Know why you’re going, what you want to achieve, and plan your steps carefully.
Future Plans?
My vision is to understand why the cancer burden in relatively younger population is increasing and use that knowledge to devise effective preventative and treatment strategies.