Professor Tom Wilkinson to lead national research collaboration

Professor Wilkinson has been appointed as the new Chair of the NIHR Respiratory Translational Research Collaboration.

The NIHR Respiratory Translational Research Collaboration (R-TRC) brings together leading investigators from across the UK. It aims to speed up the delivery of new drugs for patients with respiratory conditions.

Professor Wilkinson is Respiratory and Allergy theme lead at our NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre (BRC). He is also Professor of Respiratory Medicine and Associate Dean at the University of Southampton.

He was previously the R-TRC's Deputy Chair. He also co-leads their COPD National Research Strategy Group (NSRG).

Improving care for respiratory conditions

Respiratory disease affects one in five people and is the third biggest cause of death in England.

The annual economic cost of respiratory conditions on the NHS is vast. Asthma costs £3 billion and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease costs £1.9 billion. Meanwhile, lung conditions, including lung cancer, cost the NHS £11 billion annually.

Improving the diagnosis, care and prevention of respiratory disease is a key priority for the Department of Health and Social Care. 

Stronger together

The R-TRC aims to speed up the delivery of new drugs in a range of respiratory conditions. It does this by working at the interface of experimental medicine and early phase trials.

Investigators work with life sciences companies, charities and other funders.

In doing so, research can be accelerated to benefit patients. 

Building on success

As new Chair, Professor Wilkinson will continue to build on the successes of the R-TRC. He will take over from Professor Alex Horsley of NIHR Manchester BRC, who has led the TRC since 2022.

Professor Wilkinson said: “I am thrilled to be appointed as the new Chair of the Respiratory TRC.

“The R-TRC is strategically placed to become one of the key agents of change and collaboration within respiratory medicine. I look forward to leading this enthusiastic group of experts, steering the community and working closely with industry.

“Together we will continue to work towards tackling major challenges within respiratory medicine for the benefit of patients.”

Professor Salman Siddiqui will move into the position of Deputy Chair. He is a Clinical Professor of Respiratory and Experimental Medicine at Imperial College.

Professor Siddiqui is Respiratory Co-theme Lead at NIHR Imperial BRC. He led the R-TRC’s Asthma NSRG and was the R-TRC Industry lead. 

He said: “The R-TRC has been critical in galvanising the research community and facilitating translational research across BRCs. This is all for the benefit of patients with respiratory disease.

“I look forward to working with the new Chair and supporting the NSRGs to help drive and accelerate their efforts as the TRC enters a new era of leadership.”