Anna Kirby

President, European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology (ESTRO) 

Dr Anna Kirby is a Consultant Clinical Oncologist working at the Royal Marsden and Institute of Cancer Research, UK. She specialises in the treatment of patients with breast cancer and leads research into novel breast radiotherapy techniques. She is Chief Investigator of the UK HeartSpare and HeartSpare Plus studies, and breast lead investigator on the UK CORE trial evaluating the role of stereotactic radiotherapy in treating metastatic disease.

Dr Kirby graduated from Cambridge University in 1995 with a first-class honours degree in Medicine and Psychology. Her specialist oncology training was completed at The Royal Marsden and Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospitals following which she undertook a research degree at the Institute of Cancer Research. Her publications describe methods for improving the accuracy of breast cancer radiotherapy and for reducing late side-effects of treatment including heart disease. Her work in heart-sparing breast radiotherapy has changed national practice. Her current research interests include combining breath-hold and volumetric-modulated arc therapy to minimise heart and lung doses in women with lymph-node positive breast cancer, reversing the order of breast cancer treatments to reduce the impact of radiotherapy on breast reconstructions, and investigating the applications of MR-linac technology to the treatment of breast cancer.

Dr Kirby is an Examiner for the UK Royal College of Radiologists (RCR) and a member of the RCR Professional Support and Standards Board. She is also a keen singer and aspiring composer.

Update: September 2023