NHS Fife Local Infrastructure
NHS Fife has recently integrated Innovation into its well established Research & Development (R&D) Department. R&D, led by the Assistant R&D Director, is supported by the extensive R&D team. Innovation is headed up locally by the Innovation Champion, supported by an Innovation Support post and centrally by the South East Scotland Innovation Network.
R&D and Innovation activities are overseen by the NHS Fife RD&I Director, with the Board Medical Director acting as the RD&I Lead. Both R&D and Innovation are located in Queen Margaret Hospital, Dunfermline.
Meet the Team
Neil Mitchell
Innovation Manager
Neil has an undergraduate and post graduate degree in Biomedical Sciences from the University of Dundee and University of Glasgow, respectively.
Following graduation Neil worked in Busan, South Korea for two years. Returning to the UK, Neil first began working in the research environment in Regulatory Affairs for a Contract Research Organisation, based in Nottingham.
After moving north to Edinburgh, he joined NHS Lothian Research and Development as a Research Governance Officer, focussing on commercial research within the NHS. After gaining experience in research governance, Neil moved to a sponsorship role in the University of Edinburgh, working on a European wide Alzheimer’s research project. Following the end of this trial, Neil moved to the role of Clinical Research Facilitator within the University of Edinburgh working on non-CTIMPs, CTIMPs and NHS Lothian led research projects and clinical trials requiring sponsorship.
Neil has joined NHS Fife as Innovation Manager and brings extensive knowledge in research governance and health and medical research. Neil looks forward to working closely with the HISES team and utilising his wealth of experience to support Innovation projects in Fife and the South East.
Angus Aitken
Innovation Project Manager
Angus has an undergraduate degree in Biochemistry from the University of St Andrews and postgraduate degrees in Biomedical Sciences and Biochemistry from the University of Edinburgh and University of St Andrews.
Initially continuing his PhD research in St Andrews, Angus then moved to Pneumagen Ltd. The first spin out company of the School of Biology, his work was centred on developing the company’s novel antiviral technology. This work quickly changed in 2020 with the COVID-19 pandemic, where Angus was the project lead in testing the technology against this novel virus, working closely with academic, industrial, and governmental collaborators.
After the pandemic, he continued to support the movement of the company’s lead product through Stage 1 and Early Stage 2 Clinical Trial; and conducting research to demonstrate the potential pan-viral efficacy of the technology, with this work being published in July 2024.
Angus has joined NHS Fife as an Innovation Project manager, bringing his experience and knowledge of project management and fundamental research to this next step in his career. Initially working on the Fife aspect of the Reducing Drugs Death challenge and AI projects within Fife, he looks forward to working closely with the HISES Team and NHS Fife.