Professor Jonathan Montgomery will head up the Health Research Authority, the new organisation that will protect and promote the interests of patients and the public in health research.
Professor Montgomery, currently Professor of Health Care Law at the University of Southampton, Chair of the Nuffield Council on Bioethics and Chair of Hampshire Primary Care Trust, plans to withdraw from his role as Chair of Hampshire Primary Care Trust as soon as handover arrangements have been agreed.
Health Secretary Andrew Lansley said of Professor Jonathan Montgomery:
“He is a leading expert in healthcare law, genetics and bioethics, and in addition he has an in-depth knowledge of the NHS gained from working on 2 NHS Trusts, a Primary Care Trust and a Strategic Health Authority.
“His depth of knowledge and breadth of experience will be vital in helping the Health Research Authority to safeguard the interests of patients whilst streamlining health research regulations.”
Professor Dame Sally Davies, Chief Medical Officer and Chief Scientific Adviser, said:
“I am delighted that Professor Montgomery has been appointed as the Chair of the Health Research Authority to take this exciting phase of development forward.”
Dame Sally explained:
“The Health Research Authority has been set up to protect and promote the interests of patients and the public in health research.
“Its role is to help patients to benefit from participating in research by simplifying processes for ethical research, while protecting them from unethical research.”