Professor Jim Neilson has been appointed as the first Dean for NIHR Faculty Trainees.
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| Prof. Jim Neilson |
Jim Neilson is Head of the School of Reproductive and Developmental Medicine, Co-ordinating Editor of the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group and Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Liverpool. He is also Honorary Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist to the Liverpool Women's NHS Foundation Trust.
The Dean is responsible for:
- Assisting NIHR and universities in the career management of all trainees who are funded by NIHR
- Ensuring the quality of training programmes
- Ensuring the quality of local and mentoring support
- Contributing to the leadership training of these individuals.
Professor Neilson took up post in June 2008 and will represent the NIHR Faculty within the NHS and the academic community on behalf of the Director General of Research and Development for the Department of Health.
NIHR Trainees are the next generation of health researchers, who show the potential to become leaders in their particular field and whose research is people or patient-focused and relevant to the NHS. They include all those who are funded through the NIHR Integrated Academic Training Schemes and NIHR Personal Awards Schemes. Details are available on the NIHR Trainees Coordinating Centre website.
Professor Dame Sally C Davies, Director of Research and Development at the Department of Health said:
"I am delighted to welcome Jim to this important role. This appointment is significant for the NIHR Faculty because we intend to increase the number of NIHR Trainees to approximately 1,800 to 2,000 over the next five years. His leadership will help to promote academic training pathways through our Research Capacity Development Programme, providing a framework of support, guidance and promotion to help trainees as they progress through their career."