Professor Rebecca Fitzgerald has been elected a fellow of the prestigious American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Academy in recognition of her work on the capsule sponge – a quick and simple test that aids early detection of oesophageal cancer.
An honorary consultant gastroenterologist at Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (CUH), Professor Fitzgerald has spent more than 20 years developing the capsule sponge, a ‘sponge-on-a-string’ test to accurately detect Barrett’s oesophagus, a precursor to oesophageal cancer.
The Fellows of the AACR Academy honours scientists, clinicians, and physician-scientists whose visionary work has reshaped the landscape of cancer research.
The AACR says Professor Fitzgerald’s fellowship is for “unparalleled contributions” to understanding the causes of oesophageal cancer and for pioneering minimally invasive testing through the development of the capsule sponge “which has demonstrated over tenfold greater sensitivity in large-scale trials and transformed early detection by offering a practical and cost-effective alternative to endoscopy.”
The capsule sponge test has been found to be 10 times more effective at detecting oesophageal cancer compared to standard GP care. It is currently being piloted in some UK high street pharmacies and is in large-scale trials to investigate whether it could be used for cancer screening.
Find out how capsule sponge is helping to revolutionise early detection
It is an honour to be elected an AACR fellow. AACR is a powerful convener for the cancer research community and I am excited to join the Academy as an ambassador for the growing field around earlier cancer detection and interception.
Professor Rebecca Fitzgerald
Professor Fitzgerald is Professor of Cancer Prevention and Director of the Early Cancer and Early Detection Institutes at the University of Cambridge. She also became Head of the Department of Oncology in October 2025.
She was awarded an OBE in 2022 and became a Fellow of the Royal Society in 2024. She is a leader in cancer prevention and early detection and is research lead for the planned Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital.
The new state-of-the-art facility will house three world-leading research institutes focused on early detection, integrated cancer medicine and precision breast cancer medicine.
The Early Cancer Institute Research Clinic will lead the way in helping to advance minimally invasive new technologies and novel devices to detect cancer early enough to cure it.
Professor Fitzgerald’s research has largely been funded by Cancer Research UK and the Medical Research Council with support from the National Institute for Health and Care Research.
Dr Margaret Foti, chief executive officer of the AACR, said: “This year, we are extremely excited to announce the election of 24 new Fellows of the AACR Academy who embody the pinnacle of scientific excellence. Together, these individuals from around the globe, specializing in various scientific disciplines, have fundamentally shaped cancer research and improved patient outcomes.”