We are delighted to announce that Professor John Whittaker will become the new Director of the MRC Biostatistics Unit (BSU).

Professor Whittaker was appointed following a competitive international search to find a successor to Professor Sylvia Richardson CBE, who will be stepping down after nearly 10 years leading the Unit.

Professor Whittaker is joining the BSU from GlaxoSmithKline, where he has held a number of leadership positions in both genomic and statistical science, most lately as Vice-President, Human Genetics.

Professor Whittaker said:

“I couldn’t be more excited to be taking up this position at this time. The BSU has an international reputation for excellence in Biostatistics, and there are tremendous opportunities for the Unit to become even more prominent as the ongoing data science revolution transforms biomedicine over the next few years.”

The BSU, based on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus and part of the University of Cambridge, is one of the largest groups of biostatisticians in Europe, and a major centre for research, training and knowledge transfer in biostatistics. The BSU is internationally renowned for the strength of its research and its successful strategy of maintaining a unique balance between statistical innovation, dissemination and engagement with making impact in biomedical and public health issues.

Professor Whittaker will be the eleventh Director of the Unit since its first inception in 1913. Previous Directors have included Major Greenwood, Austin Bradford Hill and Nicholas Day.

Current Director, Professor Richardson, said:

“I am thrilled to be passing on the baton to Professor Whittaker. He is perfectly placed to build on the outstanding record of the Unit to tackle the exciting challenges ahead in biomedical data sciences and population health.”

Professor Whittaker will join the Unit at the end of the year.