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Dr Mark Toal is Deputy Director of Research Systems at the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC). Mark is accountable for cross-NIHR policies relating to:

• - patient and public involvement, engagement and participation
• - NIHR contracting and procurement (including procurement of the NIHR Coordinating Centres),
• - cross-NIHR data and digital systems
• - NIHR research impact, dissemination and transparency/open science
• - NIHR internal and external communications

Mark is also responsible for overall NIHR financial monitoring and planning, including NIHR policy on Research Capability Funding and Excess Treatment Costs.

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.