Richard Gilbertson completed his medical training and PhD in paediatric oncology in the UK before moving in 2000 to St Jude Children’s Research Hospital in the USA, where he served as Scientific and Comprehensive Cancer Centre Director, Executive Vice President and Lillian R Cannon Endowed Chair. 

In August 2015, he moved to the University of Cambridge where he is the Li Ka Shing Chair and Senior Group Leader at the CRUK Cambridge Institute, and was formerly Head of Department of Oncology and Director of the Cancer Centre. In October 2025 he was installed as Master of Gonville and Caius College. 

His laboratory research is focused on understanding the link between normal development and the origins of cancer, particularly childhood brain tumours. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS), Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences UK (FMedSci), Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians, and member of the European Molecular Biology Organisation (EMBO).