23 February 2024

Professor Karl Peggs has been appointed as UCLH director of research and director of the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) UCLH Biomedical Research Centre (BRC).

Karl is a consultant in haematology and transplantation at UCLH, as well as clinical and scientific director of UCLH’s Sir Naim Dangoor Centre for Cellular Immunotherapy. He is also an honorary professor of transplant science and cancer immunotherapy at the UCL Cancer Institute. He is a co-founder and chief medical officer (CMO) of UCL spin-out company Achilles Therapeutics, which develops novel cancer immunotherapy treatments.

UCLH chief executive David Probert said: “We are delighted to appoint a clinician and academic of Karl’s outstanding calibre to lead our ambitious clinical research programme.

“Over the next five years, we will grow our national and international research portfolios, with our academic partner UCL and others, to improve care and outcomes for patients.

“Karl is a pioneer in the field of cancer immunology and his innovative leadership will support UCLH to consolidate its position as a world-leading research hospital.”

Karl said: “The UCLH BRC has had real success over the last 12 years and I would like to take the opportunity to thank my predecessor, Professor Bryan Williams, for his outstanding contribution to make this happen.

“UCLH has been such an important part of my life and career and so I am excited to evolve my role and the work I do across the institution. The breadth of outstanding scientific and clinical research delivered across all the NIHR partner organisations is truly amazing and I look forward to helping realise the impact of these many innovative programmes.”

The NIHR recently awarded the UCLH BRC £90million to develop ground-breaking treatments and diagnostics over the next five years. This is the fourth time this prestigious funding has been awarded to UCLH, reflecting the strength and international competitiveness of our experimental medicine programme. The funding will enable our research programme to continue to grow so that patients benefit from scientific breakthroughs as quickly and as safely as possible.

Karl will begin his new directorship roles in August 2024.

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