Health Data Research UK (HDR UK) has developed significantly since starting in 2018, in terms of the scale of communities involved, programmes of work and impact on the health of patients and public through research and innovation. In response to these developments, we are announcing three changes to how we organise ourselves from 1 April 2020:
- Caroline Cake will take on the role of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at HDR UK.
- A consolidated strategic delivery plan, which includes our 20 geographic locations across the UK
- An expanded Executive Committee and two new delivery groups
These changes will enable the national and international development of HDR UK under the leadership of Professor Andrew Morris, HDR UK’s Director. Andrew will lead the development of the Institute vision, providing national and international strategic and scientific leadership in health data science. As CEO, Caroline will be running HDR UK, by providing strategic direction, and leadership for the organisation’s delivery programmes, including the UK Health Data Research Alliance, Gateway, Hubs, corporate services, and people programmes.
The HDR UK consolidated strategic delivery plan for 2020/21 brings together the institute activities and sets out planned activities for the year ahead. HDR UK is a federated institute, benefiting from teams and physical offices located across the four nations of the UK. This plan sets out each of these locations and teams and how they are working together for the collective effort. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the power of this agile, federated model, allowing a rapid and galvanising response to the UK research effort at scale in partnership with NHS, academia and industry.
The newly formed Executive Committee, supported by two newly established groups: the Improving and Uniting Health Data Delivery Group (IDG) and the Using Health Data Delivery Group (UDG); will provide the governance structure across the whole community to support HDR UK in meeting its ambitious goals. Further details, including membership of these groups, can be found on our website here.
Chair of HDR UK, Graham Spittle says:
“HDR UK’s development over the last year has been phenomenal. These changes in our organisation will help us to take the next steps needed in delivering on our mission to enable discoveries that improve people’s lives. Andrew and Caroline’s leadership and collective experience are fundamental to our goal of building a world leading Institute, that will position the UK to lead health data science internationally”
Andrew Morris, Director of HDR UK, says:
“These developments ensure that HDR UK has strong leadership in place and a clear strategy that is focused on the future. I am delighted that Caroline will assume the role of Chief Executive Officer, supporting me as Director and the Board. HDR UK has undergone a period of significant change over the past year and Caroline’s unique range of skills will ensure we move forward with confidence. Caroline’s charismatic leadership, values and organisational management qualities will prove invaluable in the future.”
Caroline Cake, Chief Executive Officer, says:
“I am delighted to support the HDR UK community in making the UK the most impactful place to do health data science. HDR UK’s inclusive, team-oriented culture, built on the values of transparency, optimism, respect, courage and humility, will be at the heart of how we build HDR UK as one of the world’s leading health data science institutes.”
