The ABPI is delighted to announce the appointment of Professor Carole Longson MBE as Chief Scientific Officer at the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI).
Longson joins the ABPI from her current role as Executive Director and board member at the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).
Longson will be responsible for leading the research, medical and innovation function at the ABPI with a remit to shape and develop UK pharmaceutical science policy and to ensure that the UK remains at the forefront of innovation in medicines research, development and manufacturing now and into the future.
Longson brings significant research, academic and pharmaceutical industry experience to the role, including seven years as a research lead at GlaxoSmithKline R&D.
She has extensive experience of directing multidisciplinary life sciences research programmes, managing large scientific departments and collaborating on multinational research grants.
Longson was a past member of the Scientific Advisory Committee for Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI), the leading pan-European public- private partnership, which funds health research and innovation.
She also holds non-executive director and advisory roles in other scientific endeavours in the UK and abroad. These positions have given her a unique and extensive perspective on the changing face of industry.
Longson has unparalleled insight into the fast evolving medicines pipeline having spent the past 18 years at NICE where she has pioneered and led the organisation’s technology appraisal programme. Longson is highly respected as a leader in HTA both in the UK and internationally and was formerly President of Health Technology Assessment International.
Throughout her career and role at NICE, Longson has gained valuable understanding of how the public and private sector must continue to collaborate to meet the shared aims of ensuring medical innovation benefits patients in the UK.
Mike Thompson, Chief Executive of the ABPI, said: “The appointment of Carole Longson to this new post signals our commitment to strengthening our focus on science, research and discovery in the UK and the role our members play in developing new innovative medicines and vaccines. Her scientific research and academic experience, along with her integrity, perspective and vision can really help us continue to transform the pharmaceutical industry in the UK.”
“UK life sciences is a complex ecosystem of players and I have no doubt that Carole is the right person to help us better collaborate with our research partners and academia, forge strong links with NHS research colleagues and ensure the focus of our industry is on delivering new and exciting medical science. On behalf of the Board and ABPI staff, we very much look forward to working with Carole.”
Neil Weir, Chair of the ABPI Innovation Board and Senior VP of Discovery at UCB, said: “As the UK negotiates its withdrawal from the European Union and the Government considers its approach to the implementation of the Life Sciences Industrial Strategy it is vital that the pharmaceutical industry is able to closely and constructively engage with public sector partners in Government and the NHS to ensure the UK builds upon its strengths to become as attractive an environment for Research & Development in life sciences as possible.”
“I am therefore delighted by the appointment of Carole Longson to the role of Chief Scientific Officer at the ABPI and believe Carole’s significant scientific experience, expertise and network in both industry and academia will enable the ABPI to work with our partners to further these objectives.”