New UCLH Research Director announced

He will succeed Professor Monty Mythen whose second term as Research & Development Director came to an end in March this year. Professor Mythen will continue to work with Professor Williams in a transitional role for the remainder of 2014 as Clinical Research Network Lead, focusing on developing UCLH's interface with the new North Thames Clinical Research Network.     

Professor Williams joined UCL in June 2012 as Professor of Medicine and was appointed as Director of the National Institute for Health Research University College London Hospitals Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) shortly after, in August 2012. 

The post of Research Director has a large remit encompassing all aspects of research infrastructure and support at UCLH, including the BRC, the NIHR/Wellcome UCLH Clinical Research Facility, the clinical translational portfolio supported by the NIHR Clinical Research Network and the role of research governance assurance to the trust board of directors. 

Professor Tony Mundy, Medical Director at UCLH, said: "Professor Williams will be assembling a leadership team around him that will focus on taking maximum advantage of the opportunities that exist for clinical research growth.  He will continue to directly lead the BRC, reflecting the importance of the BRC as the focal point for the trust's research activities. 

"This model of joining the R&D Director and BRC Director roles is the same model as adopted in most of the NHS trusts with large BRCs. It provides a more integrated model for the NIHR funded research infrastructure at UCLH/UCL.

"I would like to take this opportunity to thank Monty Mythen for his expert leadership of UCLH research over the last six years."

Professor Williams has been appointed as the UCLH Research Director with effect from April 2014.