Tuesday 12th November 2024
Cambridge University Health Partners (CUHP) is delighted to announce that Lord James O’Shaughnessy will take over from Laurel Powers-Freeling as the new Chair, starting at the beginning of next year.
James has operated at the highest levels of government, including as a Minister in the Department for Health & Social Care, as Director of the No.10 Policy Unit, and as an advisor to Ministers during the COVID-19 crisis. As Minister his responsibilities included implementing the Life Science Industrial Strategy, delivering a new pricing scheme with the pharmaceutical industry, chairing the National Genomics Board, and driving the digital transformation of the NHS. He was also responsible for preparing the health and social care sectors for Brexit and helping to design the post-Brexit regulatory regime.
He is co-founder and Senior Partner of Newmarket Strategy, a consultancy dedicated to improving access to health innovation by providing strategic advice and technical support to the healthcare, life sciences and health tech sectors. At Newmarket, James provides senior counsel to multinationals, SMEs, investors, universities and charities across health and life sciences, with a particular focus on technology, digital and data.
James is a Life Peer in the House of Lords, a Visiting Professor at the Institute of Global Health Innovation at Imperial College, a Trustee of HDR-UK, a non-executive director of Albion Development VCT plc, and Patron and Strategic Adviser to the Tessa Jowell Brain Cancer Mission. In 2023 James led and published an independent review of commercial clinical trials in the UK for HM Government.
Lord O’Shaughnessy says:
“Becoming part of Cambridge’s exceptional life sciences and healthcare ecosystem is incredibly exciting, especially at a time when successive governments have recognised the cluster’s potential to boost the health and prosperity of the local area and wider UK. In the coming months I look forward to working together with partners across the region to make the most of this unique opportunity.”
Dr Kristin-Anne Rutter, Executive Director of Cambridge University Health Partners says:
“Having worked with James previously on advancing the national life sciences agenda, I know first-hand the energy, commitment and experience he will bring to CUHP and to the wider Cambridge cluster. His insights from working at the top of government in the Department of Health and Social Care, and with pharmaceutical and medical technology companies seeking to bring innovations to patients, will be invaluable in maintaining Cambridge as a global destination for life science talent and investment.”
