Professor Simon Lovestone appointed as the new Director of Research
26 August 2010
King’s Health Partners Academic Health Sciences Centre is delighted to announce the appointment of Professor Simon Lovestone as Director of Research to its permanent Executive.
Professor Simon Lovestone is currently Professor of Old Age Psychiatry at the Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College London and Director of the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Centre for Mental Health at the South London and Maudsley NHS Trust and the Institute of Psychiatry.
Speaking on his appointment, Professor Lovestone said: 'I am delighted to be taking up my new role as Director of Research for King’s Health Partners and feel strongly that the establishment of our academic health sciences centre provides a once in a career opportunity to rethink and refocus biomedical research for patient and population benefits.
'We must capitalise on our strong position in basic research, our excellence in translational and applied research and our strengths in social and population sciences. If we can do so, and combine this with our outstanding clinical excellence and the almost unparalleled access to a huge and diverse local population, then we can fulfil our vision and consolidate our position as a leading driver of health related research, not only in the UK but internationally.'
King’s Health Partners’ Executive Director, Professor Robert Lechler, said: 'I am sure colleagues across the partner organisations will join me in welcoming and supporting Simon as he takes up his new appointment. Simon’s success – and therefore that of King’s Health Partners – will depend on Simon working closely with senior colleagues across our four partner organisations to deliver excellence across the research agenda.' Professor Lovestone’s appointment will be a part-time role, taking up around half his time.