Dr Mark Toal, Deputy Director - Research Systems

Mark is accountable for a number of aspects of NIHR systems, including:

Overall NIHR financial monitoring and planning, including NIHR policy on Research Capability Funding and Excess Treatment Costs
The NIHR contract and elements of NIHR procurement, including procurement of the NIHR Co-ordinating Centres
Cross-NIHR Information Systems and data policy
Analysis of NIHR research impact
NIHR communications policy
Supporting NIHR Strategy Board

In addition to his NIHR-facing accountabilities, Mark is responsible for sponsorship of the Health Research Authority.

Mark has held a number of policy, strategy and delivery roles within DHSC and other Government Departments. Prior to his time in the civil service, Mark was a research scientist at the Natural Environment Research Council and has a PhD in Environmental Biology from the University of Liverpool.