The Oversight Body

The Oversight Body includes senior members from Breakthrough Breast Cancer and The Institute of Cancer Research along with the principal investigators of the Breakthrough Generations Study and the Chair of the Advisory Committee.


The Oversight Body meet two or three times a year. They are responsible for:

  • The overall governance of the study.

  • Ensuring that the integrity of the study is maintained and that it is appropriately managed over its life.

  • Approving, where appropriate, research proposals to conduct scientific analyses using the data and samples collected in the study.

Members of the Oversight Body

Jeremy Hughes, Chair (rotating with ICR nominee annually)
Chief Executive, Breakthrough Breast Cancer

Jonathan Kipling, Chair (rotating with Breakthrough nominee annually)
Secretary, The Institute of Cancer Research,

Professor Anthony Swerdlow (Study Leader)
Head of Epidemiology, The Institute of Cancer Research

Professor Alan Ashworth (Study Leader)
Director, Breakthrough Research Centre

Professor Robin Weiss
Breakthrough Breast Cancer Representative

Jan Brooks
Breakthrough Breast Cancer Representative

Professor David Phillips
Institute of Cancer Research Representative

Professor Keith Willison
Institute of Cancer Research Representative

Professor Tim Bishop
Independent scientist

Professor Per Hall
Independent scientist

Amanda Jones
Participant member

Eve Smith
Participant member

Dr Norman Freshney
Secretariat, Breakthrough Breast Cancer

Dr Julia Wilson
Secretariat, Breakthrough Breast Cancer