Dr Gail Marzetti has been appointed as the new Director of
Science, Research and Evidence (SRE) in the Department of Health
and Social Care (DHSC). She will take over the role previously
held by Dr Louise Wood.
Helping to lead the NIHR and steer research across health and
social care, Dr Gail Marzetti will work under the direction of
Professor Lucy Chappell, Chief Scientific Adviser to DHSC and
Chief Executive of the NIHR. She brings with her a wealth of
relevant experience with a background in research funding and a
track record in the inclusion of vulnerable and marginalised
people.
NIHR aims to improve the health and wealth of the nation through
research. Their research helps discover new treatments, improve
diagnosis, advance medical technologies and bolster health and
care services.
Health research was fundamental in tackling Covid and the NIHR
was integral to this. They co-funded and supported the research
behind the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine as well as dexamethasone,
the first effective treatment of Covid.
In the last 10 years, NIHR researchers have reported more than
6,500 cases where their research has influenced health and care
policy or impacted on practice and guidelines.
Minister for Innovation, , said:
Health and care research is crucial to transform our health
service and ensure the NHS is able to deliver world-class care.
It has been vital in our fight against Covid and in saving
thousands of lives – whether through the rapid creation of
vaccines or the identification of life-saving treatments like
dexamethasone.
I want to thank and pay tribute to Dr Louise Wood for her
incredible work and leadership. I know Dr Gail Marzetti will
build on Dr Woods’ contribution, working alongside Professor Lucy
Chappell to ensure the UK remains a world-leader in diverse,
ground-breaking research.
Professor Lucy Chappell, Chief Executive of the NIHR and Chief
Scientific Adviser at DHSC, said:
This is an exciting new chapter for NIHR.
Louise will be hugely missed, but I am confident Dr Marzetti
brings with her a wealth of experience with a background in
research funding and an interest in underserved communities. She
will be well placed to help deliver the strategic aims of NIHR,
focusing on improving care and outcomes for patients and the
public, and tackling inequalities across health and care.
Dr Gail Marzetti, incoming Director of Science, Research and
Evidence, said: > I’m thrilled to be joining the leadership of
NIHR and once again working in the field of research and
evidence. > > So many of NIHR’s strategic priorities are
about inclusion and health inequalities, topics close to my
heart, and I’m excited to bring my experience to bear both on
NIHR’s national work and on its work in low and middle income
countries. > > I look forward to collaborating with
colleagues across the health and care research sector to help
NIHR deliver against its vital mission.
Dr Marzetti is a senior civil servant with 25 years of experience
across a range of policy areas. She joined DHSC in March 2020 and
is currently Director of Refugees and Head of International
Workforce. Prior to this she worked for the Department for
International Development (DfID) for over 20 years. This included
six years as one of the team that established DfID’s Research and
Evidence Division, putting evidence at the heart of policy and
programmes. More recently she was head of DfID Myanmar, leading
the UK response to the Rohingya crisis, and before that head of
DfID Nepal.
Dr Louise Wood has been in DHSC since 2005 and played an
instrumental role alongside and Sir . Louise has co-lead the
organisation with great integrity and passion, having watched it
grow from inception.
Dr Louise Wood leaves DHSC in June 2022 and Dr Gail Marzetti will
take up her role in July.
