Former UCL head of medicine appointed government’s Chief Scientific Adviser

Professor Patrick Vallance, former head of medicine at UCL, has been appointed the UK government's Chief Scientific Adviser. Professor Vallance will advise the prime minister and cabinet, and will lead the Government Office for Science, which ensures government policies and decisions are informed by the best scientific evidence and strategic long-term thinking. UCL President & Provost, Professor Arthur said: "Professor Vallance is a distinguished scientist whose positions have not only been pivotal in science and research across the UK, but right here at UCL, where he's held a great number of important roles, notably Professor of Medicine at UCL, a role which includes furthering the transfer of laboratory discovery to clinical practice. "Most importantly, it's his deep understanding of how science and research are translated into industry and application, including to inform policy, that can be of the greatest benefit to us all. Professor Vallance's appointment as the British government's new Chief Scientific Adviser is very welcome." With over 20 years' experience of research clinical medicine, general internal medicine, cardiovascular medicine and clinical pharmacology, Professor Vallance has played an important role in UCL's history, including as a clinical academic and, as Professor of Medicine, where he led the Division of Medicine at UCL. He's also served as a recent advisor for The Apollo Therapeutics Fund, a unique collaboration between UCL, Imperial and Cambridge along with GlaxoSmithKline, AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson.