The funding committees for the NIHR Invention for Innovation (i4i) Programme are multidisciplinary, comprising academic, clinical and commercial experts, as well as patient and public members. i4i has five committees: three for Product Development Awards (committee A, committee B and committee C), one for Challenge Awards, and one for Connect.
Committee members - Connect
| Name | Position | Organisation | Expertise |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professor Paul Sibbons (Chair) | Independent pre-clinical Consultant |
Independent Consultant |
Professor Sibbons has extensive experience in pre-clinical surgery, pathology, evaluation and interpretation. |
| Dr Ayokunmi (AJ) Ajetunmobi | Director Venture Development | We are Pioneer Group |
Dr Ajetunmobi oversees venture programmes that fund breakthrough life sciences startups. These programmes have launched over 100 companies that have raised over £350 million to date. |
|
Professor Peter Bannister |
Managing Director | Romilly Life Sciences |
Professor Bannister helps build high-growth businesses by commercialising innovative products in multiple markets and leads on R&D activities. |
| Dr Anna Barnes | Director of KiTEC | King’s Technology Evaluation Centre, King’s College London | Dr Barnes is a clinical scientist with a broad range of expertise in imaging statistics, medical technology assessment and artificial intelligence. |
| Dr David Brownlee | Innovation Advisor | Health and Social Care (HSC) Innovations | Dr Brownlee has experience in commercialisation, intellectual asset management, research agreements, research translation, assessing the value of healthcare technologies, technology management and innovation strategy. |
| Professor Sanjukta Deb | Professor of Biomaterials | King's College London |
Professor Deb has expertise in biomaterials chemistry and researches the development of biomaterials to restore function of traumatised or diseased tissue using innovative analogue materials. |
| Miss Rosie Forder | Public Committee Member | PPI Representative | PPI Representative |
| Dr Nasir Hannan | General Practitioner & Partner | Priory Gardens Surgery |
Dr Hannan is a General Practitioner, with an interest in digital services. He is also a member of the Primary Care Leadership group for Clinical Research Network (CRN) East of England. |
| Mr Michael King |
Investor Relations Manager/Medical Technology analyst |
Advanced Medical Solutions |
Mr King is a medical technology specialist within the global medical technology industry. |
| Professor Nick Lemoine |
Director, Medical Director |
Barts Cancer Institute, |
Professor Lemoine is a world leader in pancreatic cancer research and has interest in the development of oncolytic virotherapy and cancer vaccines. |
| Professor Philip Quirke |
Professor of Pathology |
University of Leeds |
Professor Quirke is a consultant histopathologist and has expertise in gastrointestinal pathology, molecular pathology, microbiome, bowel cancer, quality of surgery, trials and screening. |
|
Dr Frank Ratcliff |
Director of Industry and Innovation |
Health Innovation Wessex |
Dr Ratcliff has a background in genetics and expertise in commercial research which spans all stages from lab research and IP to major global products. |
| Mr Danny Roberts | Public Committee Member | PPI Representative | PPI Representative |
| Mr Tim Robinson | Commercial Director | Health Innovation East Midlands |
Mr Robinson has over 20 years experience of UK healthcare, gained through roles in the NHS and a variety of commercial roles with healthcare software businesses. |
| Professor Jacky Smith | Professor of Respiratory Medicine | The University of Manchester |
Professor Smith is a leading clinical academic in the field of cough. She runs a multi-disciplinary team whose focus is on understanding mechanisms underlying cough. |
| Dr Gary Thorpe | Director | Gary Thorpe Associates Limited |
Dr Thorpe's experience combines academic science with medical diagnostics and technology transfer. |