University of Buckingham’s Dean of Medicine becomes a successful entrepreneur

3 April 2018

Professor Karol Sikora, Dean of Medicine at The University of Buckingham

Professor Karol Sikora, Dean of Medicine at The University of Buckingham

Luke Johnson, chairman of Risk Capital Partners and the Institute of Cancer Research, has applauded University of Buckingham Dean of Medicine Professor Karol Sikora for changing careers and becoming a successful entrepreneur at the age of 60 in an article in The Sunday Times.

Professor Sikora, who is one of the country’s leading cancer experts and who had had a life-long career in medicine, decided to become an entrepreneur when he reached his sixth decade and co-founded Cancer Partners UK, which constructed the largest network of private-public outpatient cancer centres in Britain. He raised venture capital and served as the clinical director for the business as it opened 10 treatment centres over four years, mainly providing radiotherapy treatment but also diagnostic tests and chemotherapy.

After six years, the company was sold for more than £100m to Australia’s GenesisCare, realising a sizeable return for its backer, Apposite Capital.

During the same period Professor Sikora was the driving force behind setting up the Buckingham Medical School, the first independent medical school in the country which has proved to be a phenomenal success. The Buckingham Medical School has been so successful that it has outgrown its home and £10m is needed to construct a larger premises.

More recently, Sikora has raised more than £150m from investors as co-founder of Proton Partners International, which is building a series of facilities that will be the first to offer proton beam therapy in Britain. This produces fewer harmful side-effects than conventional radiotherapy, and there are more than 40 proton centres across the world — but none in the UK.

Luke Johnson says in the article: “Sikora enjoyed a stellar and varied career treating patients and carrying out research, yet decided to break free and do something radical and bold at an age when many are thinking of retirement. He used his reputation and knowledge to embark on a new chapter in his life, raising private money to offer innovative treatments to cancer patients and opening a ground-breaking medical school. He has created jobs, widened access to medical training and generated wealth for investors. Yet despite all his achievements, he has never received an honour, demonstrating just how bad the system is at recognising the real pioneers who are not easily pigeon-holed. Not enough British doctors seize the enormous opportunities that healthcare can offer to determined entrepreneurs.”

“Sikora is a brilliant example of how someone with energy and enthusiasm can make a hugely positive impact on society — at almost any age.”