Dr. Saif Ahmad

Dr. Saif Ahmad is a consultant oncologist and academic physician whose clinical work and research at Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust laid the foundation for a breakthrough in cancer care. He holds a position as Assistant Professor in the Department of Oncology at the University of Cambridge and has been recognised by the UK Acute Oncology Society as one of the future clinician leaders in the field.

In 2018, he co-founded 52North alongside his wife Umaima Ahmad, drawing on his frontline experience of the inefficiencies cancer patients face when monitoring for neutropenic sepsis — a life-threatening complication of chemotherapy. As Chief Scientific and Medical Officer, Saif bridges the clinical and commercial worlds, ensuring the company's products are grounded in real-world patient and clinician needs. He was previously a University of Cambridge Canada-UK Postdoctoral Fellow in Innovation and Entrepreneurship and sits on the board of the UK Acute Oncology Society and as an Assistant Editor of the Clinical Oncology Journal.

52North's flagship product Neutrocheck® — a finger-prick, at-home blood test for neutropenic sepsis — has received breakthrough device status from the UK Government and has attracted investment from leading hospital venture funds on both sides of the Atlantic. The company is also developing ACORN™, an AI-driven digital platform for remote triaging of acute oncology needs, supported by NIHR funding.