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The Wellcome Trust is the UK’s largest funder of independent medical research and recently announced plans to spend almost £4 billion over the next five years in what is believed to be the largest ever charitable spend within the UK.
Sir William Castell is a champion for medical research. Alongside his business career he has been involved for many years in not-for-profit activities, including being a council member of the Medical Research Council (2001-2004) and Chairman of the Prince's Trust (1998-2003). He is currently a trustee of the Natural History Museum; a Visiting Fellow at Green College, University of Oxford; and an Honorary Fellow of King’s College London and the Academy of Medical Sciences.
Sir William became Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Wellcome Trust in May 2006, after joining the Board in January 2006. He retired in April 2006 as President and Chief Executive Officer of GE Healthcare and Vice-Chairman of the General Electric Company (GE). He remains a director of GE, now as a non-executive. He joined GE in April 2004 following GE's acquisition of Amersham plc, of which he had been Chief Executive since 1989. Prior to joining Amersham, he held various positions with the Wellcome pharmaceutical company, which was then owned by the Wellcome Trust. He became a non-executive director of BP plc (formerly British Petroleum) in July 2006.
Challenges and Opportunities
In his talk at Lecture theatre 1, New Hunt's House, Sir William will focus on three areas currently affecting biomedical research. Firstly, identifying the new opportunities offered by the new technologies such as genomics, neuroscience, interdisciplinary research and translational research.
He will examine the best ways for Research Funders, Industry and Academia to collaborate, highlighting the new initiatives that the Wellcome Trust are funding to translate the best basic and clinical research ideas into new products and approaches to the treatment of disease. He will also explore the next generation of large-scale genetic studies, and programmes to translate scientific discoveries into new treatments strengthening research capacity abroad.
Finally he will focus on how we maximise the benefits of global linkages and partnerships in relation to Biomedical Sciences, looking at the role and responsibility of society and government in viewing good health as an investment in productivity and wealth creation.
Graham Lord, Professor of Medicine and Honorary Consultant Physician, Director of Translational Research Development and Deputy Director of the NIHR Biomedical Centre King's College London and Guy's and St Thomas' Hospital, London, UK comments: ‘We are very fortunate that Sir William Castell has agreed to speak to us at the next Biomedical Forum. He will talk about many of the translational research areas that we are involved with in the Biomedical Research Centre and there will be a chance to talk to him after his lecture'.
The Biomedical Forums are organised by the Biomedical Research Centre, which is the result of a highly successful partnership between King's College London and Guy's and St Thomas' Foundation NHS Trust. The Biomedical Forum provides a unique opportunity to showcase translational research: which is the translation of research into clinical care. It fosters collaboration between scientists, clinicians, dentists and allied health professionals.
The Forum will take place today in Lecture theatre 1 from 13:00 - 14:00 at New Hunt's House and is open to all students and staff.
Source: By King's College London
Posted February 21st, 2008 by seher
