Issue date: 15 March 2004
For immediate use

Wellcome Trust appoints new Head of Strategic Planning and Policy Unit

Dr David Lynn has been appointed to the new post of Head of Strategic Planning and Policy Unit at The Wellcome Trust, the leading biomedical research charity. Dr Lynn, who is currently Director of Science and Innovation at the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), will take up his appointment in April.

Dr Mark Walport, Director of The Wellcome Trust said:
"I am delighted to welcome David, who will play a key role in the organization as we continue to develop a more strategic approach to our funding and build on the strong climate of collaboration between funders."

Ends

Media contact:
Mark Anderson
Media Officer
The Wellcome Trust
Tel: 020 7611 8612
E-mail: m.anderson@wellcome.ac.uk

Notes to Editors:

1. The Wellcome Trust is an independent research funding charity established in 1936 under the will of the tropical medicine pioneer Sir Henry Wellcome. The Trust's mission is to foster and promote research with the aim of improving human and animal health and it currently spends over £400 million per annum.

2. Dr David Lynn is currently Director of Science and Innovation at the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC). As well as holding various senior positions at NERC, he has spent a number of years at the Cabinet Office and the Office of Science and Technology. David is currently a member of several strategy and policy groups within the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the Environment Agency, the Department of Trade and Industry and Research Councils UK.