Robert Bristow is Director of the Manchester Cancer Research Centre. A leading clinician scientist and world-expert in prostate cancer, he champions translational science; combining innovative laboratory research on the tumour microenvironment with deep clinical understanding that significantly benefits patients. To distinguish which men diagnosed with prostate cancer are at high risk of cancer recurrence after treatment, he led an international team that developed a genetic test that can identify patients who need more aggressive treatments. Crucially this test provides better options for personalised therapy in high-risk prostate cancer patients, while avoiding over-treatment for patients with less aggressive cancers.