Director of research & innovation and NIHR BRC co-director

Location: London

Salary: Attractive executive remuneration package

Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is a world-leading provider of eye health services and a globally recognised centre of excellence for ophthalmic research, education and innovation. With more than 2,500 staff, across 21 network sites, our reputation for providing the highest quality ophthalmic care has developed over 200 years and we are proud to be supported by one of the most diverse workforces in the NHS.

In partnership with the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, the trust delivers a major translational research programme, including the NIHR Moorfields Biomedical Research Centre. Our research is truly world-leading, with recent innovations gaining international media coverage including first-ever treatments for hypotony and several rare genetic conditions and a series of breakthrough applications of artificial intelligence (AI).

Our new centre for advancing eye health, called Moorfields and UCL Centre for Eye Health, is opening to patients in summer 2027, and will further cement our international reputation as a leading force in ophthalmic research and development.

The centre will integrate clinical care, research and education under one roof in a state-of-the-art environment, accelerating the development and delivery of new treatments for patients.

We are now seeking an exceptional individual to join the Trust Board as Director of research and innovation, who will also serve as co-director of the NIHR Moorfields Biomedical Research Centre (BRC).

This is a pivotal role, bringing together research, innovation and commercial activity under unified strategic leadership. Reporting to the chief executive, you will set the overarching vision for research and innovation (R&I) across the organisation, shaping its future direction, strengthening performance and ensuring alignment with clinical priorities, workforce strategy and digital ambitions. You will build on established strengths in experimental medicine and early-phase clinical trials, leveraging world-class infrastructure and translational capability to deliver greater impact at scale.

Working in close partnership with the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, you will jointly lead the scientific direction and delivery of the BRC, building on areas of established excellence while identifying and developing new opportunities for growth and impact.

You will play a key role in enhancing Moorfields’ national and international research profile, expanding partnerships across academia, industry and the life sciences sector, and accelerating the translation of research into improved patient care and outcomes. A central priority will be to embed a stronger focus on innovation, commercialisation and income generation within R&I, maximising the value and impact of the trust’s research portfolio, including through industry engagement and new partnership models.

You will foster a culture in which research and innovation are integral to clinical practice, enabling participation across professional groups and ensuring that opportunities and benefits are accessible to diverse patient populations. Alongside this, you will bring greater clarity and effectiveness to the R&I function, strengthening governance, ways of working and organisational alignment.

This appointment calls for an individual of outstanding credibility, judgement and influence. You will bring an established international reputation in a relevant research field, ideally underpinned by clinical credibility, alongside a strong track record of leadership within complex healthcare, academic or research environments. You will demonstrate a deep understanding of translational research and its interface with clinical systems, and a proven ability to secure significant funding, build strategic partnerships and deliver impact at scale. You will be an experienced senior leader, comfortable operating at Board level, with the ability to lead complex, multi-disciplinary teams and partnerships, align diverse stakeholders and drive organisational change in pursuit of a clear strategic vision. You will be expected to meet the criteria for appointment at Professorial level at UCL.

This is a rare opportunity to shape the future of research and innovation at Moorfields, one of the world’s leading centres for eye health, strengthening the Moorfields and UCL partnership and driving advances in patient outcomes in the UK and globally.

To find out more about this opportunity and to apply, please visit , quoting reference number 1163 .

For a confidential discussion, please contact our advising consultants at Veredus: Reece D’Alanno on [email protected] or Nataliya Starik-Bludova on [email protected] .

Closing date for applications is 12:00 noon on Friday, 29 th May 2026.