Skin cancer remains one of the most prevalent and fastest-growing malignancies worldwide, with melanoma alone projected to affect 1.1 million people in the UK by 2030. While advances in immunotherapy, targeted therapies, and AI-driven diagnostics have transformed the outlook for many patients, the industry continues to grapple with significant challenges, i.e. inefficiencies in clinical trial design and execution, critical shortages of specialised talent, and persistent funding bottlenecks.

In this article, we explore the current landscape of skin cancer R&D, hiring trends and the latest breakthroughs.

Current challenges in clinical trials

Clinical trials in skin cancer face a unique set of challenges:

• Delays and Costs: Over 80% of clinical trials experience significant delays, often due to difficulties in patient recruitment, regulatory complexity, and inefficient trial designs. The average cost to bring a new drug to market now exceeds $2.6 billion, with timelines stretching up to 15 years. These delays not only increase costs but also slow the delivery of potentially life-saving therapies to patients in need.
• Diversity Gaps: Despite efforts to broaden participation, underrepresentation of minority and underserved populations in clinical trials persists. Only 6–8% of cancer patients enrol in trials, limiting the generalisability of results and potentially exacerbating health disparities. 
• Adaptive Trials: As therapies become more advanced-such as gene editing or cell-based treatments, traditional randomised controlled trial designs are often insufficient. Adaptive trial designs, which allow for modifications based on interim results, are increasingly used but require sophisticated statistical expertise and agile operational support. Smaller biotech firms, in particular, may struggle to marshal the necessary resources and talent to implement these complex studies.

Hiring trends

The demand for niche skills in skin cancer research and development is outpacing supply, creating a fiercely competitive talent market:

• AI and Data Science: Companies like Skin Analytics, which recently raised £15 million to expand its AI diagnostic platform, are in a race to attract experts in machine learning, computer vision, and dermatology. These professionals are essential for developing and validating algorithms that can accurately detect skin cancer from medical images, reduce diagnostic delays, and improve patient outcomes.
• Regulatory Affairs: As regulatory requirements become more complex, there is a growing need for specialists who are adept at navigating FDA, EMA, and other global regulatory pathways. These experts ensure that clinical trials are designed and conducted in compliance with all relevant guidelines and that submissions are prepared to the highest standards.
• Clinical Trial Design: Statisticians and SAS programmers are critical for the design, execution, and analysis of adaptive trials. Their expertise enables companies to make real-time adjustments, optimise resource allocation, and ensure robust data integrity.
• Medical Affairs and Clinical Operations: With the proliferation of new therapies and trial designs, experienced medical affairs professionals and clinical operations managers are needed to bridge the gap between research and real-world practice, ensuring that studies are executed efficiently and that findings are effectively communicated to healthcare providers and patients.

As Steve Herne, CEO of Unlearn, notes:

“Trials are getting more complex and expensive as they target smaller populations and stricter regulations. We need smarter designs and nimble teams.”

Our team covers all these specialisms and draws on an extensive network of talent in AI, Data Science, Regulatory Affairs, Programming, and Medical Affairs. Get in touch or email us to connect with a specialist recruiter who can demonstrate how we consistently achieve a 90% CV-to-interview ratio.

Overview of pioneering companies and breakthrough therapies

Skin Analytics: AI-powered diagnostics

Skin Analytics is at the forefront of leveraging artificial intelligence to transform skin cancer diagnostics. Their DERM technology is the first FDA-authorised AI tool capable of making independent clinical decisions about skin cancer without human review. By reducing diagnosis times to as little as five minutes, DERM is helping to address the shortage of dermatologists and improve early detection rates. The company’s expansion into the U.S. and EU markets is creating significant demand for AI engineers, healthcare IT specialists, and clinical data managers. 

Their £15 million Series B round is enabling the deployment of AI diagnostics across 26 NHS sites, with plans for further expansion into the U.S. and Europe. This funding supports not only technology development but also the recruitment of top-tier AI engineers, data scientists, and healthcare IT specialists.

Scancell: Vaccine breakthroughs

Scancell’s partnership with the NHS on the phase II SCOPE trial for the iSCIB1+ vaccine represents a major advance in melanoma treatment. The NHS Cancer Vaccine Launch Pad is fast-tracking patient recruitment, enabling the rapid evaluation of this promising DNA vaccine. To support these efforts, Scancell is actively recruiting clinical operations professionals, data management experts, and regulatory specialists who can navigate the complexities of multi-centre trials and ensure compliance with evolving standards. With £10.3 million raised for its melanoma vaccine trial, Scancell has achieved an impressive 84% disease control rate in early studies. This funding is critical for advancing the vaccine through phase II trials, scaling up manufacturing, and expanding clinical operations teams.

IO Biotech

The Danish MedTech company secured €57.5 million in venture debt to advance its immunotherapeutic cancer vaccine for melanoma. These funds will support ongoing clinical development, regulatory submissions, and preparations for market launch.

Roche: U.S. Manufacturing expansion

Roche’s $50 billion investment in U.S. manufacturing and R&D facilities highlights the industry’s shift toward domestic production and supply chain resilience. By creating over 12,000 jobs in research, development, and manufacturing, Roche is not only strengthening its own capabilities but also contributing to the broader ecosystem of innovation and talent development.

AI-driven drug development

Artificial intelligence is playing an increasingly central role in drug discovery and clinical trial optimisation. Platforms like Skin Analytics’ DERM are reducing diagnostic delays, while startups such as QuantHealth use AI to predict trial outcomes, optimise patient selection, and reduce costs. These technologies are enabling more efficient and effective development pathways, but their success depends on access to skilled data scientists, statisticians, and clinical informatics professionals.

Combination therapies

Combination approaches are also showing promise. For example, TVEC-a genetically modified herpes simplex virus-used in conjunction with surgery, has demonstrated 100% tumour reduction in basal cell carcinoma trials. Such strategies require careful coordination between clinical development, regulatory affairs, and medical affairs teams to ensure safety, efficacy, and regulatory compliance.

Final takeaways

The skin cancer treatment landscape is at a pivotal juncture. Breakthroughs in vaccines, AI, and immunotherapy offer unprecedented opportunities to improve patient outcomes, but their success depends on securing specialised talent across multiple disciplines:

• Statisticians and SAS Programmers to design and analyse adaptive trials.
• Regulatory Affairs experts to navigate complex and evolving global compliance requirements.
• AI Engineers and Data Scientists to develop and validate cutting-edge diagnostic and therapeutic technologies.
• Clinical Operations Managers and Medical Affairs Professionals to ensure the seamless execution and communication of clinical research.

As a niche Life Sciences recruitment agency with in-house industry experts, we understand these challenges intimately. Our expertise lies in connecting biotech and pharma companies with the professionals who drive innovation-whether sourcing SAS programmers for adaptive trials, regulatory specialists for accelerated approvals, or AI engineers for next-generation diagnostics. 

Whether you need permanent hires, contract support, or guidance on the best model for your timeline, we help you build high-performing clinical teams that stay on track and inspection-ready.

Get in touch today to discuss how we can support your biometrics recruitment strategies.