Professor Neil Hanley to become new Head of the College of Medical and Dental Sciences

The University of Birmingham has appointed Professor Neil Hanley as Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Head of the College of Medical and Dental Sciences.

Professor Hanley, who is currently Vice-Dean (Research and Innovation) in the Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health at the University of Manchester and an Honorary Consultant Endocrinologist at Manchester Royal Infirmary, will take up his new role from 1 September 2023.

Professor Adam Tickell, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Birmingham, said:

“I am delighted to announce that we have found the next leader of our College of Medical and Dental Sciences. In Neil, we have an excellent clinician, educator, and researcher with an enviable CV, who will bring energy and experience to this important role.”

Professor Hanley holds a BSc in Pharmacology, an MBChB from the University of Edinburgh, and a PhD in Molecular Genetics from Newcastle University. He was first made full professor in 2006 and is a past president of the Association of Physicians of Great Britain and Ireland. He has been at The University of Manchester since 2008, becoming Director of Research and Innovation at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust in 2016, and Vice-Dean (Research and Innovation) in 2020.

Professor Hanley said:

“The University of Birmingham has a strong track record for improving the health of people locally and across the world through new discoveries, treatments, and training the next generation of healthcare practitioners. There is a real sense of ambition at the University, making it an honour and a very exciting time to be joining the mission to change lives for the better through education and research.”

An expert in early human development and stem cell biology, Professor Hanley has held doctoral, intermediate, and senior clinical fellowships from NIHR or Wellcome, and additional funding as lead investigator from MRC, BBSRC and EPSRC, among others. Over the last decade, this has led to outputs in several Nature journals, eLife, and PNAS. His current partnership as chief investigator with Innovate UK and industry leaders has translated his collaborative discovery science into integrated novel diagnostics for the early detection of liver disease.

Professor Hanley has a passion for education and training, having established an academy in Manchester for those embarking on their own research careers. He also directs the Wellcome-funded PhD programme for healthcare professionals across the universities of Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle and Sheffield, and led the future vision of NIHR’s 2016 national review of training.

The University of Birmingham’s College of Medical and Dental Sciences is shaping the future of health and medicine through the provision of innovative education and exceptional research, both delivered by world-leading academics. Earlier this year, the University of Birmingham rose 30 places in the QS World Subject Rankings for Life Sciences and Medicine and is now ranked at number 62.