The government has appointed Dr Melanie Ivarsson as Chief Executive Officer of the new Health Data Research Service, a groundbreaking initiative designed to accelerate the discovery of life-saving treatments and cement Britain’s position as a global leader in medical research.
Backed by up to £600 million in funding from the government and Wellcome, the HDRS will provide a secure, streamlined single access point to national-scale health datasets, slashing red tape and enabling approved researchers in both commercial and academic sectors to develop new medicines and therapies faster.
Dr Ivarsson brings exceptional expertise, having led clinical trials that produced one of the world’s first Covid-19 vaccines at Moderna, alongside senior roles at Eli Lilly, Pfizer and Takeda. She also has a strong research background, with post-doctoral work at New York University and Lund University.
Commenting on her new role, Dr Ivarsson 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.”
The HDRS will uphold gold-standard safeguards for data security and patient confidentiality, including anonymity and virtual locked rooms, while ensuring ethical oversight.
This initiative is a cornerstone of the government’s Plan for Change, which aims to build a future-ready NHS using data and technology to overcome healthcare challenges. It complements recent reforms that have halved clinical trial approval times from 91 to 41 days, and targets further reductions in trial set-up times to 150 days or less by March 2026 – the most ambitious in British history.
The HDRS will be based at the Wellcome Genome Campus in Cambridgeshire, where new R\&D facilities are being developed to expand capacity for genomics and biodata innovation. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have agreed in principle to the UK-wide ambition, ensuring benefits across all four nations.
Dr Zubir Ahmed, Minister for Health Innovation, added:
“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.”
By simplifying access to health data, the HDRS could accelerate breakthroughs in tackling cancer, dementia and arthritis, giving patients faster access to cutting-edge treatments and technologies.
Image credit: iStock
