Melanie Ivarsson appointed CEO of Health Data Research Service

Dr Melanie Ivarsson has been appointed chief executive of the Health Data Research Service (HDRS), which is backed by up to £600 million in funding from the government and Wellcome.

The Department of Health and Social Care announced the launch of the HDRS in April 2025 to bring access to data for medical research into one location, meaning that researchers do not have to navigate different systems or make multiple applications for information for the same project.

Dr Ivarsson previously led the clinical trials that produced one of the world’s first Covid-19 vaccines at Moderna.

She has also held senior roles at pharmaceutical firms Eli Lilly, Pfizer and Takeda and has a strong research background, conducting post-doctoral research at New York University in the US and Lund University in Sweden.

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.”

NHS England invited applications for the inaugural chair and chief executive of the HDRS in August 2025, with Baroness Nicola Blackwood’s appointment as chair announced by Zubir Ahmed, health innovation minister, in November.

Ahmed, 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.”

The HDRS is expected to be fully operational by the end of 2026 and is intended to streamline how health data is obtained while upholding safeguards for data security, privacy and ethical oversight, enabling approved researchers to accelerate the discovery of treatments to improve patient care.

It links to the government’s 10 year health plan and forms part of its modern industrial strategy and life sciences sector plan, with life sciences identified as a key growth-driving sector that will create high-quality jobs and boost the economy.

In December 2025, Ahmed said that the UK should leverage the HDRS for the “benefit of the Treasury coffers”. It remains unclear whether people who have opted out of their data being used for research will have their data included in the HDRS.

Phil Booth, coordinator at medConfidential, said: “Both new leaders of HDRS have a strong mRNA clinical trial background, and both know it is untenable to use data of people who have opted out of those uses.”