Two new members appointed to MRC Council
MRC/45/09
2 July 2009
The Minister of State for Science and Innovation, Lord Drayson, has announced the appointment of two new members to the MRC Council. The Medical Research Council supports research to improve human health. It is governed by its Council, which directs and oversees corporate policy and science strategy, ensures that the MRC is effectively managed, and makes major policy and spending decisions.
Tony Caplin, Chairman of The North West London Hospital NHS Trust, and Professor Dame Sally Davies, Director General of Research and Development, Department of Health, have been appointed to the Council from 1 July 2009 to 30 June 2013.
Appointments have been made in accordance with the Commissioner for Public Appointments Code of Practice. Professor Davies will not receive remuneration for this appointment. Tony Caplin will receive remuneration of £6740 per year for the appointment.
Tony Caplin holds two other Ministerial appointments; Commissioner on the Public Works Loan Board (no remuneration) and Chairman of the North West London Hospitals NHS Trust for which he receives an annual remuneration of £23,366. Dame Sally Davies does not hold any other Ministerial appointments.
All appointments to the Medical Research Council are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, in accordance with the original Nolan recommendations there is a requirement for appointees’ political activity (if any declared) to be made public. Neither of the appointees has declared any political activity.
Biographies
Tony Caplin became chairman of North West London Hospital NHS Trust on 1 July 2008, having previously been chair of Ealing Hospital and Durlacher Plc and deputy chair of Barts and the London NHS Trust. Tony is also chairman of one of the oldest City Stockbrokers, Panmure Gordon, as well as chairman of Urban Wimax Plc. He is a non-executive director of Alternative Networks Plc and Northamber Plc, a commissioner on the Public Works Loan Board, and is also a trustee of the Family Holiday Association.
Professor Dame Sally Davies is the Director General (DG) of Research and Development and Chief Scientific Adviser for the Department of Health and NHS. As DG she developed the new government research strategy, Best Research for Best Health with a budget rising to £1billion a year, and is now responsible for implementation of the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR). She also chairs the UK Clinical Research Collaboration (UKCRC) and is a member of the Board of the Office of Coordination of Health Research (OSCHR). She was a member of the steering group for the Biotechnology Innovation and Growth Team, chaired by Sir David Cooksey and its “Refresh”, and the Health Care Industry Task Force, and is also a member of the UK Health Innovation Council. She is a member of the WHO Global Advisory Committee on Health Research (ACHR) and chaired the Expert Advisory Committee for the development of the WHO research strategy, submitted as a resolution to the World Health Assembly 2009. She is a member of the International Advisory Committee for A*STAR, Singapore and the Caribbean Health Research Council and advises many others on research strategy and evaluation including the Australian NHMRC.
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