The British Pharmacological Society has announced the appointment of Queen Mary University of London’s Professor Sir Mark Caulfield as its new President-elect.
Professor Caulfield is a Professor of Clinical Pharmacology at Queen Mary and Vice Principal for Health for the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry. From 2013 to July last year, he was Chief Scientist for Genomics England, where he led the successful strategic delivery of the 100,000 Genomes Project, for which he was knighted in 2019.
The Society welcomes Professor Caulfield to its governing body at a time when pharmacology’s profile among its communities is higher than ever before, following the incredible and life-saving work of pharmacologists during the global pandemic. His vision is to enable the Society to realise the full potential of pharmacology, and to take the platform of UK pharmacology to a new level of therapeutic innovation. Alongside his distinguished 32-year clinical career, he brings extensive leadership experience, and a demonstrable commitment to equality and diversity in the discipline. He is already deeply involved with the Society, playing a key role in preparations for the 19th World Congress of Basic and Clinical Pharmacology 2023.
Speaking on his appointment, Professor Caulfield said: “I am honoured to take up this role at such an important moment for our field and for medicines and healthcare throughout the world. In the past two years, the UK has demonstrated the potential of innovative trials, undertaken at record pace with proportionate regulation, and I want to harness these progressive approaches for all our futures.
“I feel privileged to have been appointed President-elect, and I intend to work tirelessly and inclusively for all pharmacologists – from our early career cohort to our most experienced fellows.
“I am very much looking forward to implementing and supporting the Society’s new three-year strategy, alongside the President, my esteemed pharmacological colleague Professor Clive Page, as well as the Society’s trustees, volunteers and hard-working staff.”
President of the British Pharmacological Society, Sir Clive Page, said, “I am delighted to be working with Sir Mark, and to seeing how his incredible experience and achievements can guide and influence the Society’s future. This promises to be a transformational time for the Society, and Sir Mark and I are united in developing a bold and proud Society that shouts from the rooftops about its members and their impact on the world.”
The Society’s Chief Executive Rachel Lambert-Forsyth said, “Sir Mark brings long-standing clinical experience that will be invaluable to the future of the Society, and we are excited about working with him even more closely leading up to World Congress and beyond. He has a clear mandate that both matches our strategy and will help us to deliver that strategy over the next three years.”
The appointment comes as Professor Caulfield also takes up a new role at Queen Mary as Vice-Principal for Health. At Queen Mary, Professor Caulfield has made substantial contributions to the discovery of genes related to blood pressure, cardiovascular health, cancer and rare diseases. His research has changed national and international guidance for high blood pressure. He was Director of Queen Mary’s William Harvey Research Institute between 2002-2020 and was elected to the Academy of Medical Sciences in 2008.
Professor Colin Bailey, President and Principal, Queen Mary University of London, said: “I am delighted that Professor Caulfield has joined our senior leadership team, following an extensive international search.
“He brings an outstanding research pedigree and a huge amount of strategic leadership experience to the role.
“Professor Caulfield will no doubt be invaluable to the University’s development in the coming years, as our research and education in the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry continues to go from strength to strength.”
Commenting on his new role, Professor Caulfield said: “I am delighted to take up the position of Vice Principal for Health at Queen Mary and look forward to working with colleagues to ensure our research, education and engagement enables a new step change in healthcare transformation across east London and beyond.
“We have a major opportunity at Queen Mary to be the most inclusive university in the world as we have a community drawn from over 160 nationalities. We are extremely well-placed to change lives forever!”
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