Published: 19 September 2023
Professor Kevin Munro has been appointed as Programme Director for NIHR’s Research for Patient Benefit Programme (RfPB).
Professor Munro is Ewing Professor of Audiology. He is also Director of the Manchester Centre for Audiology and Deafness (ManCAD). He is Deputy Director of the NIHR Manchester Biomedical Research Centre and theme lead for Hearing Health. He is an honorary Consultant Clinical Scientist at Manchester NHS Foundation Trust. Professor Munro is also the only audiologist to be awarded NIHR Senior Investigator status.
Professor Munro has previously served as Chair of the North West Regional Advisory Committee for RfPB. He brings significant experience to the role of Programme Director.
NIHR’s RfPB programme supports research to make NHS services more effective and bring benefits for patients. It is a national programme for England. RfPB funds research on a regional level through eight Regional Advisory Committees.
Professor Munro said: “My previous role as Chair of one of RfPB’s regional committees has shown me the power and potential of RfPB to fund research that really makes a difference to the people who use our health and care services. In my new role as Programme Director I’m especially excited to help more clinicians become our next generation of researchers, ensuring RfPB can build research capacity and capability where we need it most.”
Professor Munro will take over from Professor Marian Knight. Professor Knight has moved to the role of Programme Director for NIHR’s Programme Grants for Applied Research. She has also taken up the new post of Scientific Director for Research Infrastructure on the new NIHR Board.