GW4 Alliance Appoints New Director

The GW4 Alliance has announced the appointment of Dr Sarah Perkins, Programme Director (Research) at the Faculty of Medicine at Imperial College London, as its new Director. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Dr Sarah Perkins managed a world class research portfolio at Imperial College London’s Faculty of Medicine, one of the largest medical faculties in Europe.Appointed in 2009, her role involved developing and delivering research strategy, and leading initiatives such as Research Excellence Framework submission, and working closely with several NHS Trusts through the Imperial Academic Health Sciences Centre (AHSC) to foster collaboration and implement research strategy at a senior level, exemplified by delivering and renewing one of the largest NIHR Biomedical Research Centres. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Her achievements were recognised in 2013 when she was shortlisted in the Women of the Future Awards, and she is also a Fellow of Westminster Abbey Institute. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Professor Dame Glynis Breakwell, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Bath and Chair of the GW4 Council, said: “Dr Sarah Perkins joins GW4 Alliance at an exciting time in our development. Since GW4 Alliance was established in 2013 we have earned an international reputation for delivering high-quality doctoral training and pioneering research. Sarah’s expertise in research strategy and funding will help us drive innovation across South West and Wales, benefitting our local communities.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Professor Nick Talbot, Chair of the Board for the GW4 Alliance and Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research and Impact at the University of Exeter, said: “We are delighted to announce the appointment of Dr Sarah Perkins as Director of the GW4 Alliance. Sarah brings a wealth of experience in delivering research strategies and securing major funding bids. We look forward to Sarah’s leadership as we develop our long term strategy to harness the industrial and research strengths of our region.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Established in 2013, the GW4 Alliance brings together four leading research-intensive universities: Bath, Bristol, Cardiff and Exeter. It aims to strengthen the economy across the region by acting as a foundry for new ideas and talent. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

To date, GW4 leads on 29 high quality doctoral training programmes, supported by funders including RCUK and Wellcome Trust, which provide an excellent environment for personal and professional development. It has also created 61 research communities, undertaking pioneering work from Alzheimer’s diagnosis and treatment to producing biofuels from mine water. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​