New Director and Chief Academic Officer of Usher Institute

Professor Cathie Sudlow OBE will take up the position of Institute Director for the Usher Institute, and Professor Julie Jacko will take up the position of Chief Academic Officer, both effective 01 May 2025.

Professor Cathie Sudlow has been appointed as the new Director of the Usher Institute and will take up the position on 01 May 2025. Professor Sudlow was previously the Director of the Centre for Medical Informatics at the Usher Institute. She has been on secondment for several years leading major research initiatives in UK health data science, including roles as Chief Scientist for UK Biobank, inaugural Director of the British Heart Foundation Data Science Centre, and Chief Scientist of Health Data Research UK. In November 2024, she published an independent review for UK Government of the UK’s health data landscape, making recommendations that are already influencing UK government policy in health and the life sciences. She is currently Director of the UKRI Adolescent Health Study, and has expertise in epidemiology, population health, large-scale health data, data science and neurology.

Professor Cathie Sudlow OBE
Professor Cathie Sudlow OBE, Director of the Usher Institute

Professor Julie Jacko has been appointed to a new strategic role as Chief Academic Officer for the Usher Institute, effective 01 May 2025. She will lead on initiatives aligning Usher’s governance, impact, and operations to its academic mission. This role complements her College-level role as Dean of Innovation and Engagement. Professor Jacko is a recognised leader, innovator, scholar and entrepreneur, creating and applying systems engineering-derived solutions to high-impact domains such as population health, health informatics, and the implementation of devices and systems that improve human and animal health.

Professor Julie Jacko
Professor Julie Jacko, Chief Academic Officer
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