Dr Louise Wood (Chair) Chair from December 2022 Expand Louise has worked at national and international levels for over 30 years in organisations dedicated to excellent science, enabling a healthier society and driving economic prosperity. As a senior civil servant she held roles in strategic leadership, operational delivery and policy-making including as Director of Science, Research and Evidence at the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and Deputy CEO of the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). Previously, Louise held several roles in DHSC’s Research and Development (R&D) directorate, including Deputy Director leading on relations with the life sciences industry, and subsequently for research infrastructure in the NHS and partner universities to support delivery of ground-breaking research to improve patient care and population health and cement the UK's reputation as a leading international centre for healthcare research and science. She spent a year on secondment at the Association of Medical Research Charities (AMRC) as its Director of Policy and Public Affairs. Her early career was in drug safety at the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, with four years membership of the Agency's Executive Board as Director of the General Practice Research Database. Louise has served as a Council Member for the Medical Research Council and member of Advisory Boards for the British Heart Foundation, LifeArc and Wellcome. She was elected an honorary fellow of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Medicine in 2011 and awarded a CBE for services to health research in the 2019. She has an honours degree in physiology from the University of Edinburgh and a PhD in biomedical science from the University of London.
Dr Sonya Babu-Narayan Elected AGM 2018 Expand Dr Sonya Babu-Narayan is a Clinical Senior Lecturer at the National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, and Honorary Consultant Cardiologist at the Royal Brompton Hospital in London. She is internationally recognised for her research to improve the care and quality of life of adults who were born with heart defects (adults with congenital heart disease). She was appointed British Heart Foundation associate medical director in October 2018. The British Heart Foundation funds cardiovascular research to save and improve lives.
Alyson Fox Appointed December 2019 Expand Director of Research Funding, Wellcome Trust Alyson obtained her PhD in Pharmacology from King’s College London and then spent three years undertaking postdoctoral research at UCL, before being awarded a Wellcome Trust Fellowship to work at the National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College. Alyson then joined Novartis and spent 13 years in drug discovery, initially as a lab head and later as Disease Area Head, leading a team of 60+ researchers and responsible for building a portfolio of projects from target discovery to Phase 2 clinical trial. She has experience in neuroscience, respiratory and gastrointestinal research areas. In 2010 Alyson joined the Wellcome Trust where she is responsible for the management and governance of grant funding and review processes.
Doug Brown Appointed March 2020 Expand Chief Executive, British Society of Immunology Doug leads the BSI in its mission to support and transform immunology research to the benefit of human and animal health. Using the global reach of the BSI they are building a best in class membership offer aimed at supporting research and immunologists at all stages of their career as well as leading national and international initiatives to create a thriving immunology research sector and ensure that research is translated into the clinic. Previously he was the Chief Policy and Research officer at Alzheimer’s Society where he led on the ambition to triple investment in Research and Development to £10m by 2017. Having met that commitment he continued to lead a growing and ambitious research programme delivering real impact for people affected by dementia and helping establish the world leading £500m UK Dementia Research Institute. He was also responsible for corporate operation of the organisation as well as overseeing high level policy and public affairs initiatives. Before that Doug completed his PhD at the University of Cambridge on HIV research. He worked as a post-doctoral fellow at the MRC’s National Institute for Medical Research, working on malaria, before taking up a post at the Multiple Sclerosis Society leading the biomedical research programme.
Elizabeth Robertson Elected AGM 2020 Expand Director of Research, Diabetes UK Elizabeth is responsible for ensuring Diabetes UK is driving forward understanding, diagnosis, prevention and treatment of diabetes, through investing in the best research minds and projects. Before joining Diabetes UK, Elizabeth was the first Director of Research for Breast Cancer Now, formed from the merger of Breakthrough Breast Cancer and Breast Cancer Campaign in April 2015. Prior to the merger, she was the Director of Research, Policy and Information at Breakthrough Breast Cancer. Previous roles include Director of Operations at Cancer Research UK, Dean of the Graduate Research School at Teesside University and Post-doctoral Research Associate in the Department of Biology at York University. Elizabeth completed her PhD at Queen Mary, University of London and Sloan Masters in Leadership and Strategy from London Business School in 2014. Elizabeth is a Trustee of Quadram Institute Bioscience and King’s College Hospital Charity and a former Trustee of the national volunteering charity, TimeBank.
Henny Braund Elected AGM 2020 Expand Chief Executive, Anthony Nolan Henny joined Anthony Nolan, the blood cancer charity, in 2009 as Chief Executive and set out a bold ambition to improve both outcomes and quality of life for stem cell transplant patients. Research is key to her strategic direction; with findings from the Anthony Nolan Research Institute informing the strategy for growing the stem cell register, and extensive research into patient experience and involvement guiding policy campaigns and investment in post-transplant care services across the UK. Henny has also driven the pioneering joint funding of IMPACT, the UK’s first clinical trials network for stem cell transplants and chairs the oversight committee. As a strong advocate for Life Sciences, she has overseen the launch of Anthony Nolan’s Cell and Gene Therapy Services, which provide cellular products for use in R&D – helping to accelerate research into new treatments, whilst also growing and diversifying our income for reinvestment She is a current Board member of the World Marrow Donor Association (WMDA) and Trustee for The Mix. Prior to Anthony Nolan, Henny held the role of Resources Director at Shelter, the housing charity, and draws on 25 years’ experience in the charity sector. Henny was named as the Charity Times Charity Principal of the Year in 2013 and has steered the charity to several awards including Charity Times’ Charity of the Year in 2012.
Hilary Evans Elected AGM 2020 Expand Chief Executive, Alzheimer's Research UK As Chief Executive of Alzheimer's Research UK Hilary has led the transformation of the charity to one of the leading medical research charities in the UK - seeing the charity more than triple its income in three years and therefore significantly enhanced the organisations ability to fund ground-breaking new projects. She has led major public campaigns aiming to shift public perceptions of dementia and break down the stigma around these diseases. Before joining Alzheimer’s Research UK, Hilary worked at Age UK, improving the lives of people in later life both in the UK and internationally. Hilary also brings experience of working in Government and with the pharmaceutical industry in corporate affairs roles. Hilary holds an honorary doctorate in medicine from The University of Exeter.
Jonathan Grant Appointed December 2020 Expand Jonathan Grant is founding director of Different Angles Ltd, a consultancy that focuses on the social impact of universities and research. He was formerly Vice President & Vice Principal (Service) and Professor of Public Policy at King’s College London. Service is King's award-winning and unique commitment to social responsibility and covers a range of activities including social reform, research impact, service-led learning, volunteering, and environment sustainability. Jonathan’s main research interests are in biomedical and health R&D policy, research impact assessment, the use of research and evidence in policy and decision-taking, and the social purpose of universities in the 21st century. His book, The New Power University, was published in March 2021.
Kate Adcock Elected AGM 2020 Expand Director of Research and Innovation, Muscular Dystrophy UK Kate became Director of Research and Innovation Muscular Dystrophy UK in 2018. She works with Trustees, clinicians, researchers and – most importantly – MDUK’s supporters to deliver research that is meaningful to patients living with neuromuscular conditions. Kate has over 15 years’ experience of research funding and strategy through senior roles at the Medical Research Council, Wellcome Trust and latterly, MDUK. Kate has a PhD in Neuroscience from the University of Cambridge. She worked as a post-doctoral assistant at the University of Basel and in the Department of Diagnostic Imaging at the University Children’s Hospital in Zurich before taking up a post at Wellcome in 2005.
Adam Cobham Appointed December 2022 Expand Adam is a Chartered Accountant and spent 10 years with Deloitte before moving into Financial Services. Over the following 13 years he held a number of senior Finance roles with Lloyds Banking Group and then Virgin Money before moving into his current role at Worldwide Cancer Research in 2019. Adam served as trustee and treasurer for Edinburgh Voluntary Organisations Council (EVOC), a charity supporting, developing and promoting the interests and work of voluntary and community organisations across the city of Edinburgh from 2015-22. Adam is currently the Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Office at Worldwide Cancer Research where he is responsible for Finance, HR, IT, CRM systems and reporting and Information Governance.
Daniel Pavin Appointed December 2022 Expand Daniel is a partner at the international law firm Covington & Burling LLP, advising on a wide range of commercial transactions involving intellectual property, technology and data. He has extensive experience advising on life sciences licensing, collaborations and other strategic agreements, including collaborations between industry and medical research institutes and other not-for-profits. His work includes advising a range of not-for-profit organisations in the sector on a pro bono basis. He has a particular focus on digital transformation in the life sciences and healthcare sectors, including digital health transactions, and data-driven and AI drug discovery and development projects, and is a co-lead of Covington’s global Digital Health Initiative. Daniel is also a mentor on a scheme for aspiring solicitors from diverse backgrounds.
Dan Burkwood Elected AGM 2023 Expand Director of Research Operations and Communications, Cancer Research UK Dan Burkwood is currently Director of Research Operations and Communications at Cancer Research UK. He has over 15 years of experience in research funding at CRUK and currently leads a department responsible for the charity’s research funding and evaluation, as well as research communications and engagement. Prior to this, Dan worked for the Big Lottery Fund providing support for grant holders.
Tom Nutt Elected AGM 2023 Expand CEO, Meningitis NowDr Tom Nutt has been CEO of Meningitis Now since 2017. Prior to working for this charity, Tom was Chief Executive of Healthwatch Essex and has held several roles in health and care policy. He was also previously an academic historian based at Magdalene College, Cambridge, where he lectured and researched socio-economic and demographic history.
Lea Milligan Elected AGM 2023 Expand Chief Executive, MQ Lea Milligan has been Chief Executive of MQ since 2020. Prior to this role, Lea worked as Chief Executive of Mercy Ships UK, an international NGO, delivering surgery, medical capacity building and infrastructure development across West Africa. He has over 15 years of charity sector experience, is a passionate communicator and collaborator, and advocates for a whole mind, body and brain approach to mental health research.