Dr Russell Hamilton CBE

Honorary graduates 2012-13

Dr Russell Hamilton CBE (DSc)

Friday 20 July 2012 3:00pm

Russell Hamilton was born in Australia, receiving a First Class Honours degree in Biochemistry before coming to the UK in 1979. He first worked in London (receiving a PhD in Physiology; an MBA; and a Diploma in Marketing) before moving to the South West as the first NHS Research and Development Manager for the region. He was subsequently appointed as Director of Research and Development for the South West, then for the South of England, and finally to his current post of Director of Research and Development at the Department of Health with responsibility across England.

As Director of Research and Development at the Department of Health, Russell is responsible for policies, strategies and funding schemes to improve the health and wealth of the country through research. Russell was instrumental in creating the National Institute for Health Research to transform research in the NHS and drive faster translation of scientific advances into tangible benefits for patients. He remains responsible for NIHR and the DH Policy Research Programme (total budget of £1 billion) and is actively involved in wider partnership working on innovation, science and research.

He is a Board member of the Office for Strategic Coordination of Health Research, UK Clinical Research Collaboration, National Institute for Health Research, National Cancer Research Institute, and member of Main Panel A for REF2014. He was elected a Fellow of the Faculty of Public Health in 2003 and awarded a CBE in 2010.

Russell continues to live in the South West with his wife and two daughters, both of whom were born at the RD&E Hospital.