The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) has appointed new Programme Directors to spearhead five of its pivotal research programmes.
These programmes are instrumental in funding essential research aimed at enhancing health and care, each with a distinct focus on addressing critical areas in health, care, and public health.
The newly appointed Programme Directors are set to build on the existing strengths of the NIHR's suite of programmes, leveraging their expertise to deliver national, international, and regional benefits to the public.
Professor Kathryn Oliver will take on the role of Director for the Policy Research Programme (PRP) starting March 2025. A distinguished social scientist, Professor Oliver's work centres on the creation and utilisation of evidence in public policy. Her background includes training as a molecular biologist before transitioning to social sciences and public health, where she has conducted systematic reviews for policymakers. Her collaborations with regional and local governments and health bodies have explored the factors influencing evidence use in decision-making.
Dr Adam Briggs is set to join the Public Health Research (PHR) Programme in July 2025, succeeding Professor Brian Ferguson, who has led the programme since 2020. Dr Briggs currently serves as Deputy Director of Public Health in Oxfordshire, Senior Policy Fellow at the Health Foundation, and Deputy Director of the NIHR Research Support Service Specialist Centre for Public Health at the University of Southampton. He will leave the Health Foundation to assume his new role, alongside becoming a Professor of Public Health at the University of Southampton. His research spans public health policy, risk factors for ill health, and community involvement in research.
NIHR CEO Professor Lucy Chappell commented:
“I am thrilled to welcome these new Directors. They bring with them a wealth of knowledge and experience, which will help shape and develop these vital programmes.”
Professor Olivia Wu will replace Professor Gordon as the leader of the National Research Collaboration Programme (NRCP) in March and will also direct the Better Methods, Better Research (BMBR) Programme. Professor Wu holds the William R Lindsay Chair of Health Economics and co-directs the Health Economics and Health Technology Assessment (HEHTA) Research Unit at the University of Glasgow. Her extensive experience in evidence generation and effective use of evidence in decision-making has informed clinical guidelines and health policy decisions globally.
Professor Anthony Gordon will assume leadership of the Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Programme from June 2025, taking over from Professor Andrew Farmer, who has headed the programme since 2020. A clinical academic specialising in critical care medicine, Professor Gordon is an NIHR Senior Investigator and Chair in anaesthesia and critical care at Imperial College London. His research focuses on precision medicine for sepsis, and he has led numerous clinical trials that have shaped international sepsis guidelines.
The NIHR's strategic appointments underscore its commitment to advancing health and care research, ensuring that the programmes continue to address key health challenges and improve outcomes for communities worldwide.
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