Dr Melanie Ivarsson has been appointed as CEO of the Health Data Research Service (HDRS).

The HDRS is backed by up to £600 million from the government and Wellcome. It is designed to streamline processes for approved researchers in both commercial and academic sectors to develop new medicines and therapies, while upholding rigorous safeguards for data security, privacy and ethical oversight.

It is hoped this will give patients better access to new treatments and technologies, and could set the UK on a path to cure cancer, dementia and arthritis quicker.

Dr Ivarsson has previous experience in the industry. She led the clinical trials that produced one of the world’s first Covid-19 vaccines at Moderna and has previously held senior roles at pharmaceutical firms Eli Lilly, Pfizer and Takeda.

Dr Zubir Ahmed, Minister for Health Innovation, said: "Speaking to healthcare leaders across the globe, I know the unique potential of NHS data to transform patient care in the UK when used safely and securely.

"I am delighted to announce Melanie Ivarsson’s appointment. Her experience leading some of the most important discoveries in healthcare is exactly the sort of expertise we need leading our HDRS.

"By combining the care of the NHS with the ingenuity of our world-leading scientists, our health service can truly become the envy of the world once again."

Dr Melanie Ivarsson OBE, incoming HDRS CEO, said: "I am delighted to join HDRS as its first CEO. Having seen firsthand what we can achieve when health and care data is utilised for research, I’m excited to work across the four nations of the UK and with partners across the life sciences ecosystem to turn the HDRS ambition into reality."