Professor Sir Mark Caulfield, one of the country’s most imminent scientists, is to leave his role at Genomics England to take up a new position as chief executive at Barts Life Sciences.
Professor Caulfield joined Genomics England in 2013, where he was tasked with leading the scientific oversight and delivery of the 100,000 Genomes Project, which ran until 2018. His work here led to a research resource – the largest of its kind anywhere in the world – that is helping to further the use of genomics in healthcare. He was awarded a knighthood in 2019, and England’s genomics industry is now recognised as world-leading.
More recently Professor Caulfield has worked with NHS England to create the National Genomic Test Directory and the NHS Genomic Medicine Service to offer equitable access for 56million people to appropriate genomics tests.
Genomics is expected to play an integral part of healthcare’s evolution – earlier this year Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust announced an online programme to teach staff about genomics.
Chris Wigley, CEO of Genomics England, said: “Mark leaves an extraordinary legacy of scientific achievement here for his successor and the wider team to build upon… The UK continues to lead the world in genomic medicine, which is in part attributable to Mark’s significant contribution. We’re very much looking forward to seeing how he gets on at Barts and wish him well moving forward.”
Barts is a research and innovation partnership between Queen Mary University of London and Barts Health NHS Trust. Professor Caulfield will be leading the development of a world-leading life sciences campus at Whitechapel when he steps into his new role at the end of the month.
But Professor Caulfield won’t be leaving genomics behind. His new role at Barts will have a focus on the science, as well as digital health and clinical innovation in order to transform the delivery of healthcare.