Anaid Benitez

Anaid is a Translation Scholar at The Francis Crick Institute in London, focusing on novel diagnostic tests that improves DNA repair efficiency analysis for cancer patients. Fuelled by a passion for oncological advancement, Anaid has garnered essential funding and support through the MedTech SuperConnector, Cancer Tech Accelerator, Cancer Research Horizons, and the Crick, becoming the first postdoc to lead a successful innovation-2-development grant application from the Chris Banton Foundation. As the inaugural Translation Scholar, Anaid is forging new paths for academic entrepreneurship and establishing a precedent for translational research.

Her leadership extends to co-founding and co-chairing the Crick Science Entrepreneur Network (CSEN), fostering a culture of innovation among researchers and strengthening the entrepreneurial ecosystem in London. Her contributions have earned her the distinguished 2023 Sir David Cooksey Prize in Translation, celebrating her significant impact on cancer diagnostics and her guiding role in CSEN. Anaid’s pioneering spirit and commitment to personalised medicine shine in her latest feature in Cancer Research UK's historic "More Research, Less Cancer" campaign, aiming to raise £400 million to redefine cancer care and fuel research that saves lives.

Anaid’s vision is to create a world where everyone is examined, diagnosed, and treated according to their unique composition, a world where personalised medicine is the benchmark by which all clinical practice revolves, and a future where research seamlessly translates into real-world solutions.