Donate now
EN FR
13 September 2022

Professor Dame Valerie Beral (28 July 1946–26 August 2022)

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) is saddened by the passing of Professor Dame Valerie Beral at the age of 76. She was a dear friend, colleague, and collaborator of many current and former IARC personnel. She served on the IARC Scientific Council and was a contributor to the IARC Monographs programme.

Professor Dame Valerie Beral was a renowned cancer epidemiologist. Born in Australia, she studied medicine at the University of Sydney. After a few years of clinical work in Australia, New Guinea, and the United Kingdom, she spent almost 20 years working in the Department of Epidemiology at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. In 1988, she became the Director of the Cancer Epidemiology Unit in Oxford, focusing her work on the role of reproductive, hormonal, and infectious agents in cancer risk.

She was the principal investigator for the Million Women Study cohort of women’s health, and led international collaborative studies on the risks of breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and endometrial cancer. Among her many landmark contributions was the article published in 1974 that provided the first compelling evidence that cervical cancer was caused by a sexually transmitted infection. Her research interests also included studies on HIV-related cancers in sub-Saharan Africa, workers in the nuclear industry, radiation exposures after the Chernobyl accident, and breast cancer screening.

Professor Dame Valerie Beral served on various international committees, including for the World Health Organization and the United States National Academy of Sciences. She was a member of the IARC Scientific Council from 1993 to 1996. In 2005, she participated in the IARC Monographs meeting on combined estrogen–progestogen contraceptives and combined estrogen–progestogen menopausal therapy. She collaborated with IARC scientists on various topics, including the impact of hormonal contraceptives, hormonal therapy, and socioeconomic factors on cancers of the female reproductive organs and, most recently, the impact of mobile phone use on risk of brain tumours. In June 2016, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of IARC, she gave a presentation on the prevalence and prevention of cancers affecting women. She was an outstandingly innovative cancer epidemiologist, always committed to the highest-quality science and rigour in its interpretation. She will be deeply missed.

IARC conveys its deepest and heartfelt condolences to Professor Beral’s family and friends.

Publication status

Published in section: IARC News

Publication date: 13 September, 2022, 11:58

Direct link: https://www.iarc.who.int/news-events/professor-dame-valerie-beral-28-july-1946-26-august-2022/

© Copyright International Agency on Research for Cancer 2024

Other news