Key Summary
- Professor Jacob George becomes MHRA’s first Chief Medical and Scientific Officer
- He’ll lead science and innovation to speed up safe access to new treatments
- The role strengthens public trust while keeping patients safe as healthcare advances
Professor Jacob George has taken charge as the first chief medical and scientific officer (CMSO) of Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) on Monday (5).
The appointment was made in November last year, and the MHRA had created this new role to drive scientific excellence and shape the future of regulation.
As CMSO, Professor George will lead MHRA’s science strategy and will oversee its scientific, research and innovation activities.
He brings in extensive experience as professor of cardiovascular medicine and therapeutics at the University of Dundee, a consultant physician in NHS Tayside, and Senior Health Technology Advisor at the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).
Professor George is a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians Edinburgh, European Society of Cardiology and the British Hypertension Society, as well as visiting Professor at the Dnipro State Medical University, Ukraine. He is an alumnus of the Universities of Sheffield and Dundee.
Health and innovation minister Dr Zubir Ahmed said, “The MHRA plays a vital role in supporting these innovations and Professor Jacob George’s expertise will help us accelerate access to safe and innovative treatments patients need.”
MHRA chief executive Lawrence Tallon said, “Jacob’s expertise and leadership in science and innovation will empower us to continue to set new standards as a world-class regulator, safeguarding public health and accelerating access to medicines and medical devices across all four nations of the UK.”
Regarding his new role, Professor George said, “The Agency plays a vital role in protecting patient safety while supporting innovation, and I look forward to working with colleagues and partners across the UK to strengthen scientific excellence and public trust.”
