Senior Consultant Clinical Oncologist, specializing in prostate cancer and bladder cancer, renal cancer radiotherapy, and radiotherapy for benign disease.
When cancer happens, life does not stop. However, it can feel in that moment it has. We can help you navigate this difficult time, and ease up the whole cancer journey; with expertise, clarity, trust, and compassion.
I am Dr Ioanna Nixon, Consultant Clinical Oncologist in Glasgow. I specialize in the treatment of uro-oncology cancers, and radiotherapy for benign conditions. I will guide you through options, best treatment plan and facilitation with your needs at the heart of every step.
“With over 20 years of experience in cancer care, I understand how overwhelming a diagnosis can feel. My patients choose me because I combine clinical expertise with genuine compassion. I explain complex information in clear terms, ensuring you and your family feel informed and supported at every step. My goal is not only to treat your disease, but to care for you as a whole person” – Dr Ioanna Nixon
- Over two decades of oncology expertise
- Specialist in prostate, bladder, cancer, kidney cancer radiotherapy, and benign radiotherapy
- Award-winning oncologist recognised nationally
- Trusted for clear communication and holistic care
- Rapid access appointments with no GP referral needed
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT DR NIXON’S SERVICES FOR PATIENTS
Dr Nixon is a senior oncologist, specializing in the treatment of prostate cancer, and bladder cancer diagnosis with radiotherapy, hormone therapy, and immunotherapy.
She has wide experience in the treatment of rare cancers, having been a specialist in soft tissue and bone sarcomas, and GISTs(2013-2025), and with over 20 years of experience in cancer care, where she offered chemotherapy, targeted therapies, immunotherapy, radiotherapy, and clinical trials.
Dr Nixon has held a number of National and International leadership roles, including as the National Clinical Lead for the Scottish Sarcoma Network (2015-2021), member of the NCRI Head and Neck Cancer Clinical research Group (2016-2021), UK Chair for the NCRI Epidemiology and Survivorship Clinical Research Group (2018-2021), and a member of the New Drugs Committee, Scottish Medicine Consortium (2021-2021). She has served as the Clinical Director for Oncology Services in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, and as an advisory board member for the British Sarcoma Group (2018 – 2025). She is currently Regional Quality Improvement Lead (since 2018). She is an Honorary Clinical Senior Lecturer. Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, and a Visiting Professor, Executive Education, Strathclyde University Her research focuses on novel cancer therapies, quality of life and survivorship, service improvements and clinical innovations.
She has been awarded with a PhD in Radiotherapy, a Master in Public Health (MPH:Epidemiology) degree and is a Scottish Quality and Safety (SQS) Fellow. She holds developmental roles as an educational supervisor for junior doctors and specialty trainees in oncology and an appraiser for NHS Consultants. She is also an academic mentor for PhD students and a mentor in National Leadership Programmes, including the Scottish Improvement Leader’s programme by National Education for Scotland (NES).
In 2018 she was awarded as a Founding Fellow of Faculty of Medical Leadership and Management (FMLM) for leadership and contribution to improving patient-centered care and as Honorary Fellow of the Royal College of Radiologists (FRCR) in 2021. Her team has been finalists for the BMJ Awards Cancer Team of the Year 2020 and for the HSJ Partnership awards 2021. She has been finalist and recipient of for the prestigious Scottish Women’s Awards 2023 under Service in Medicine category.
Additional to her clinical work, Dr Nixon is an accomplished executive coach and uses her deep knowledge and experience to consult teams and organisations on change management, innovation, efficiency, and resilience.
Current Roles:
- Senior Clinical Oncologist at the Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Center.
- Honorary Clinical Senior Lecturer, University of Glasgow.
- Visiting Professor, Executive Education, Strathclyde University
- Regional Quality Improvement co-Lead.
RESEARCH & INNOVATION
Dr Nixon has had a longstanding and substantive involvement in clinical research contributing to national and international studies across multiple tumour sites, with a particular focus on novel therapies, survivorship, quality of life, and service improvement. She holds a PhD in Breast Cancer Radiotherapy awarded by Kapodistriakon University, Athens, Greece, and an MPH (Epidemiology) by Liverpool University.
She has made substantial academic and research contributions to head and neck cancers, soft tissue and bone sarcomas, and GISTs, informed by over a decade of prior clinical and academic work, as Principal Investigator in multiple National and International Clinical Trials.
During her leadership (2016-2022), she led on the development of the National Sarcoma Research Strategy, which led to the enhancement of novel research for sarcomas in Scotland. One example is the CRUK Accelerator Sarcoma Award ambitious research project, aiming to determine which patients with soft tissue sarcomas with benefit from chemotherapy, as well as develop novel therapies.
Dr Nixon has served as a co-applicant in a number of national and international studies. She is also academic mentor to PhD students.
She is dedicated to supporting research with a keen interest in reducing treatment side effects and improving quality of life for patients.
She has been Principal Investigator on the following clinical trials:
- EORTC 1809 STRASS 2 study in retroperitoneal sarcomas.
- PANTHR Study on high-risk soft tissue sarcomas.
- FaR-RMS: An Overarching Study for Children and Adults With Frontline and Relapsed RhabdoMyoSarcoma (FaR-RMS).
- ICONIC study Improving Outcomes Through Collaboration in OsteosarComa (ICONIC).
- Assessing Health-related Quality of Life in Sarcoma Patients
- SUNRISELMS: A Study of Unesbulin in Participants With Advanced Leiomyosarcoma (LMS).
She is also leading on a number of patient-centred projects aiming at improving quality of life, and patient experience.
Outside clinical research, she is leading on research in concepts of leadership and innovation, as well as service improvements. She has been involved in the high-profile evaluation of the Early Cancer Detection Centers on behalf of the Scottish Government.
National Research Roles
Dr Nixon was first appointed at the National Cancer Institute for Cancer Research (NCRI) Head and Neck Group in 2015. She was appointed as the Chair for NCRI Head and Neck Epidemiology and Survivorship Clinical Research Group in 2018. She is now a member of the NCRI Soft Tissue Sarcoma Clinical Research Group (NCRI), and a member of the following European Organisation on Research for Treatment of Cancer (EORTC).
- Radiotherapy
- Soft tissue and bone sarcomas
- Quality of Life
Dr Nixon’s activity and innovation Leadership roles.
Presentations
Dr Ioanna Nixon has been invited speaker ,presenter and had her work presented at a number of national and international conferences and webinars, including:
- Scotland Policy Conferences, Policy Forum for Wales and N. Ireland on “Next Steps for cancer care in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland”, 13 October 2022.
- ‘International Webinar on Good Practices for improving the efficiency of cancer treatment in Europe, organised by EUREGHA, 6th , click here.
- BMJ/FMLM Leaders in Healthcare Conference 2021, London, 8-11 November 2021.
- Inspiring Innovation in Cancer Care Webinar, 7th February 2023, click here.
- Faculty and organising committee for BSG2021, Virtual Conference, 24 & 25 February 2021.
- 4th International Masterclass of Sarcoma and Rare Cancers, MTeams, 27th November 2021.
- President for British Sarcoma Group Conference 2020, Glasgow, 26 – 27 February 2020, click here.
- BARPAS (British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons) Webinar, 25th June 2020.
- Faculty member The 3rd European Head and Neck Society Workshop on Robotic Surgery in Head and Neck, 21 – 22 November 2019.
- Scottish Oncology Summit, 1 – 2 November 2019, click here.
- Faculty 17th World Congress of the International Academy of Oral Oncology (IAOO), click here.
- BMJ in Faculty of Medical Leaders in Healthcare Conference, 14 November 2018, Birmingham.
Dr Nixon is passionate about person – centered care and what matters to patients and carers. To this end, she is working with patients and carers to co-produce care, raise awareness on sarcomas through educating public and healthcare professionals, and improve cancer journey all the way through from diagnosis to survivorship.
CODESIGNING CARE WITH PATIENTS AND FAMILIES
Spinal Sarcoma Priority Setting Partnership (PSP)
Dr Nixon is part of the Spinal Sarcoma Priority Setting Partnership (PSP), which aims to bring together the spectrum of people with spinal sarcoma, their families, carers, charities and clinicians from each step in the patient care pathway, using the James Lind Alliance (JLA) process, to determine the Top 10 research priorities in Spinal Sarcoma. We will publicise these to help inform future research strategies. A secondary benefit of the process is that it will help build and develop clinical, scientific, and patient networks across the United Kingdom to enhance teamwork and cohesion in treating spinal sarcoma.
iCARE
Dr Nixon is leading on a novel project to co-design innovation priorities with patients and families. Project is facilitated through the West of Scotland Innovation Hub and endorsed by NHS GGC.
WORKING WITH CHARITIES
She is working with cancer charities, including as an Advisory Board member for the Throat Cancer Foundation.
She is an Advisory Board Member for the British Sarcoma Group.
She is part of the Cancer Tapestry Team, a novel art project led by her former patient Andrew Crummy, aiming to educate patients and general public on cancer, highlighting the importance of compassion in care.
WORKING WITH CHILDREN, PARENTS AND SCHOOLS ON HEALTH, WELLBEING AND RESILIENCE
During COVID-19 pandemic she wrote and illustrated a free book to explain COVID-19 pandemic to children. The book went viral, got translated into 11 languages, and was the start of a series of children’s books to educate and coach them and families on health promotion, life-style behaviours and wellbeing. As a social entrepreneur Dr Nixon is the founder of Jack and Dr Betty, as well as Wee Leaders Hub, both invested to educate children and families on leading a healthy, joyful, purposeful life.