Appointment Professor Mark Thursz appointed as the Director of Imperial AHSC

Professor Mark Thursz has been appointed Director of Imperial College Academic Health Science Centre (AHSC), who is also the Director of the NIHR Imperial BRC. He succeeds Professor Jonathan Weber, a leading HIV expert.

Professor Thursz’s new position would strengthen the current relationship between the two NIHR initiatives, BRC and AHSC, and better align research, education and clinical care to accelerate the translation of research into superior patient outcomes.

Professor Thursz was appointed as a consultant in Hepatology at St Mary’s Hospital in 1997 providing treatment for patients with a wide spectrum of liver diseases. He served as clinical lead for Hepatology for six years and established the Operational Delivery Network for viral hepatitis in North West London. He is also internationally renowned for his research on viral hepatitis and alcohol-related liver disease. He led the European Association for Study of the Liver (EASL) from 2011 – 2013 and authored the European guidelines on Alcohol-Related Liver Disease. In 2011, Professor Thursz launched the Prevention of Liver Fibrosis and Cancer in Africa (PROLIFCA) programme to address barriers that prevent the control and elimination of viral hepatitis in countries with limited resources. He also runs a translational research programme in alcohol-related liver disease.

Preventing, detecting and treating disease

As Director, Professor Thursz will play a leading role in advancing Imperial College AHSC’s work in turning the latest scientific discoveries into new ways of preventing, detecting and treating disease in North West London and beyond.

Innovations that the AHSC is developing to transform health outcomes include a digital alert system at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust and Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust to monitor patients with sepsis which has led to a reduction in deaths and hospital stays; remote monitoring of patients at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust who had a heart attack has led to fewer readmissions to hospital; switching the order of treatments given to breasts cancer patients to reduce side effects and improve outcomes; a single magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brain scan to diagnose Alzheimer’s disease and an immunotherapy drug to treat children with peanut allergy.

The AHSC also played a pivotal role in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. Researchers from Imperial’s School of Public Health informed national and international governments’ responses to the pandemic and lifting of lockdown restrictions. Other researchers developed a rapid COVID-19 test for use in hospitals and led clinical trials evaluating COVID treatments, which transformed outcomes for the most critically ill patients. Another group led a nationwide surveillance programme to track the prevalence of COVID-19 in the community – the REACT study.

Professor Mark Thursz, Director of Imperial College AHSC, said: “Throughout my career in medicine I have seen how scientific discoveries can be harnessed to find new ways to improve health and save lives.

“Imperial College AHSC does extraordinary work and I am thrilled to be its next Director. There are new global, national and local challenges ahead and problems to help solve. I know the AHSC is more than equipped to meet these challenges and play a leading role in shaping the future of translational medicine.

“Imperial College AHSC is the embodiment of how science can be a force for good for humanity. This was especially highlighted during the COVID-19 pandemic, where we deployed our academic and clinical expertise to meet that difficult moment.

“As Director I am looking forward to steering the AHSC through its next chapter and building on the relationships with our partners so that we push the boundaries of translational medicine. One particular area I wish to develop is our use of digital resources to address health challenges in North West London.”

Welcoming Professor Thursz to the role, Professor Mark Walport, Chair of Imperial College AHSC Strategic Partnership Board, said: “I want to congratulate and welcome Mark to his role as AHSC Director. He has a longstanding record of excellence and through his leadership, he will ensure that the AHSC delivers on its ambitious strategy to improve healthcare for all.

“The work of the AHSC is truly transformative. From developing more effective cancer diagnosis tests to new treatments to treat a range of long-term lung conditions, it has led the way in showcasing what can be achieved through collaboration and utilising the strengths of our partners and all our talented staff on a shared mission.”

Professor Tim Orchard, chief executive of Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, said: “We embed research and innovation in all aspects of our care so that we can provide our patients with cutting-edge treatments and access to medical teams who are at the forefront of medical science.

“Professor Thursz has led the NIHR Imperial BRC to be the largest in the country, and it is great that he will bring this track record of leadership to the wider AHSC partnership across northwest London. His ongoing dedication to prioritising a translational approach to medical research will further strengthen our joint aim of bringing benefit from research and clinical trials directly to our patients and local communities and addressing the most pressing health concerns.”

Lesley Watts, Chief Executive of Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, said:

“I would like to offer my congratulations to Professor Thursz in his new role as Director of the Imperial College AHSC. His extensive experience and expertise will be fundamental in pushing the boundaries of medical innovation and research, and importantly directly impacting patients’ lives. We look forward to working together with Professor Thursz to continue this important work.”

Dame Cally Palmer, CEO at The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, said: “I would like to congratulate Professor Thursz on his appointment. His record of achievement is well established, and I have no doubt under his direction the excellent work of the AHSC will continue.

“Imperial College AHSC is instrumental in ensuring we are always looking at new methods and technologies to improve how we provide healthcare.

“The way we diagnose and treat cancer is constantly evolving and partnership with the AHSC provides us with even greater insight into the possibilities that exist.”

Professor Kristian Helin, Chief Executive of The Institute of Cancer Research, London, said: “We’re grateful to Professor Weber’s contributions throughout his leadership and I wish to congratulate Professor Thursz – we look forward to working productively with him as the new Director of the AHSC.”