New research director to lead cutting-edge innovation
5 April 2013
A NEW director has been appointed to head up the clinical research office at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Sheffield.
Dr Peter Sneddon will take up the post of director of Sheffield’s clinical research office on 6 May. He will play a key role in supporting the work of world-class academics and clinicians, who work together to pioneer studies and revolutionary techniques which have the potential to significantly improve the quality of patients’ lives.
Peter joins the Trust and University after extensive experience of leading successful clinical and translational research programmes in the Wellcome Trust, the Department of Health and Cancer Research UK.
Sir Andrew Cash, chief executive of Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: “I am delighted to announce the appointment of Dr Peter Sneddon as director of Sheffield’s clinical research office. Peter brings a decade of leadership experience to the role, and his strong track record will play a pivotal role in helping shape the strategic vision of our research. This will serve to strengthen the work of our world-class clinicians and scientists, who are at the cutting-edge of innovation in patient care.
“Peter’s appointment will also enable us to continue to forge vital links between Sheffield Teaching Hospitals and the academic profession, industry and government, so that we can continue to transform the shape of healthcare through the development of new drugs and treatments which have the potential to substantially improve the quality of people’s lives both now and in the future.”
Professor Tony Weetman, faculty pro-vice-chancellor for medicine, dentistry and health at the University of Sheffield, said: “We established the joint Clinical Research Office two years ago and already we have seen it benefit the research being done in both organisations, which in turn means improvements in patient treatment and care. The director of the clinical research office plays a central role in our research strategy and I really look forward to working with Peter to further develop clinical research and innovation in the Trust and in the Faculty.”
Dr Peter Sneddon, who has a large portfolio of published studies in key journals such as Nature and Science, added: “I am delighted to have been appointed to this prestigious post. Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest healthcare research institutions in the UK, and this is an excellent opportunity to for me to use my wealth of expertise to support individuals and teams who have been pioneering nationally and internationally respected medicines and treatments which are now widely used in hospitals around the country.”
As deputy director of research and development at the Department of Health, Peter made a substantial contribution to the establishment of the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) in 2006. He was responsible for all of the NIHR research programmes – ranging from clinical trials of new treatments to applied research in health service delivery and social care.
As a researcher, he was awarded over 20 research grants and served on the editorial boards of a number of leading journals in his field, including the British Journal of Pharmacology and the European Journal of Pharmacology. He also holds a doctorate in pharmacology from the University of Oxford.
Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust secures over £15 million a year to fund and support research studies that could benefit patient care.
ENDS
