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Brian Walker has strategic responsibility for developing the University’s research and innovation profile and performance, maximising the opportunities across its Faculties and campuses, catalysing external partnerships (including through the University’s National Innovation Centres), encouraging research-led teaching, and ensuring that talented researchers are propelled up the ‘skills escalator’ to meet the demands of the 21st Century both locally and globally. To support these goals he has executive responsibility for investment in research training and infrastructure and works closely with academic and professional services members of the research and innovation leadership team and with other members of the University Executive Board.

Brian joined Newcastle University in 2017 from the University of Edinburgh, where he was Head of the BHF Centre for Cardiovascular Science, Dean of Research for the College of Medicine & Veterinary Medicine, and an architect of the sector-leading Edinburgh Clinical Academic Track scheme. A clinical Endocrinologist, his research on steroid hormones in cardiovascular disease is supported by a Wellcome Trust Investigator award and has led to >250 original research papers (h-index >70) and a new drug which has reached clinical trials in patients with dementia. He has also edited three editions of the iconic textbook Davidson’s Principles & Practice of Medicine and supervised >40 PhD students. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh and of the Academy of Medical Sciences, a former Chair of the Wellcome Trust Clinical Interview Committee and BHF Project Grants Committee, and current Chair of the MRC Population & Systems Medicine Board and member of the Clinical Medicine sub-panel for REF2021.