From Breakthrough Science to Global Recognition: Celebrates Professor Waseem Qasim and Patient Alyssa Tapley on TIME100 Health List

Professor Waseem Qasim, Consultant at Great Ormond Street Hospital and Professor of Cell and Gene Therapy at University College London, has been named in TIME’s 2026 TIME100 Health List of the World’s Most Influential Leaders in Health. Walid describes the recognition as a powerful reflection of innovation, courage and teamwork in modern medicine.

TIME describes the annual list as spotlighting the 100 most influential leaders in health this year. As the global order has shifted, these titans, innovators, leaders, pioneers and catalysts have pushed new ideas, from gene therapies to regulatory agencies, ahead to build healthier populations around the world.

Professor Qasim has spearheaded a series of groundbreaking world first treatments at Great Ormond Street Hospital. He led the research that delivered the world’s first use of gene edited cells to treat leukaemia and has continued advancing the field through CRISPR and emerging gene editing technologies.

Most recently, he led multidisciplinary teams at GOSH alongside Dr Robert Chiesa and Dr David O’Connor, and Dr Christos Georgiadis at UCL, to deliver the first therapeutic use of base editing to treat relapsed T cell leukaemia. This pioneering step has reshaped possibilities for patients facing limited options.

“I feel incredibly privileged to be included in TIME's health list this year, but this is really down to the work of the amazingly dedicated teams that pull together to find new ways to help patients,” Professor Qasim said.

“I want to extend a huge congratulations to Alyssa, too, who has also been named in the list. We could not do the work we do without people like her. They put their trust and faith in us to push the boundaries of science when they know there is no guarantee of success.

“Our thoughts are also with all the families who are not as fortunate and are looking to science to offer them hope for the future. We know there is more work to be done.”

Joining Professor Qasim on the TIME100 Health List is 17 year old GOSH patient Alyssa Tapley, from Leicester.

At just 13 years old, Alyssa became the first person in the world to receive a treatment created using base editing technology. It was an entirely new way to engineer a potentially life saving therapy for her relapsed T cell leukaemia and it had never been tried in a patient before.

Her bravery marked the beginning of a clinical trial that has since treated both children and adults and has now been extended to additional patients with relapsed T cell leukaemia.

“It was four years ago when I first met Professor Qasim and his amazing team. I am so thankful to be here and honoured to be named one of the TIME Top 100 Health Influencers. This moment is not just about me, but belongs to every person who has supported and encouraged me on my journey,” Alyssa said.

Matthew Shaw, Chief Executive of Great Ormond Street Hospital, praised both honourees.

“This recognition is a powerful tribute to Alyssa’s extraordinary courage and to Professor Qasim’s unwavering commitment to pushing the boundaries of science in the service of children. Waseem’s research continues to turn hope into reality for families facing the most devastating diagnoses.

“We are immensely proud of the huge variety of teams that work together for Alyssa and young people like her to make a real difference to lives around the world.”

The full TIME100 Health list and related tributes appear in the February 23, 2026 issue of TIME and at time.com/time100health.

For Walid, the dual recognition underscores something larger than individual achievement. It highlights how visionary science and patient courage together can redefine what is possible in global healthcare.