Dr Sam Barrell (CBE) has been promoted to Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Francis Crick Institute with immediate effect.
Sam joined the Crick as Chief Operating Officer in September 2017 after a career in the NHS as a noted healthcare leader. She was previously Chief Executive of the Taunton and Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, and before that, she played a major role as Chief Clinical Officer in overseeing the formation of the South Devon and Torbay Clinical Commissioning Group.
Since joining the Crick, Sam has been responsible for leading the operational management and running of the institute, as well as deputising for the Crick’s director and CEO, Paul Nurse, on a regular basis.
At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Sam worked with Crick scientists and the local NHS Commissioning Group, to rapidly establish a testing pipeline for healthcare workers. Crick researchers processed thousands of samples a week, helping protect 10 hospitals, many community and ambulance services, and 150 care homes. She also led the formation of a partnership with University College London Hospitals (UCLH) NHS Foundation Trust, to establish a COVID-19 vaccination centre at the Crick last year, where NHS staff and Crick volunteers vaccinated over 80,000 people.
The Crick recently announced a new £50million fund, thanks to a generous philanthropic pledge, which will support the translation of Crick science. With this, the Crick will be able to investigate the expansion of commercial revenue opportunities and Sam will be leading on this initiative.
Paul Nurse, director of the Crick, said: “Please join me in congratulating Sam on all she has achieved at the Crick so far and in wishing her all the best in undertaking these new responsibilities."
