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

Professor Frances Quirk

Assistant Research and Development Director

Professor Frances Quirk is the newly appointed Assistant Research and Development Director at NHS Fife, previous roles include; Director of the New England Institute of Healthcare Research at the University of New England, Director of Research at Barwon Health, Victoria, Professor of Mental Health and Behavioural Science at James Cook University and Senior Associate Director Clinical Development at Pfizer Pharmaceuticals Ltd. Frances is a Chartered Health Psychologist, behavioural scientist, psychometrician and sexologist and is recognised as an expert internationally in the development of measures to assess aspects of quality of life, function and assessment (specifically across four clinical areas; respiratory disease, sexual function, eating disorders and mental health) either in the acute, community or clinical trials setting.

Frances has an extensive track record of international collaboration, publications, presentations and consultation and engagement with 100+ presentations at scientific meetings in Europe, UK, USA, Australia and New Zealand. As a consultant and profile staff within the Pharmaceutical industry Frances engaged in extensive consultation and engagement with industry, Key Opinion Leaders and regulatory agencies in the UK, Europe and the USA.

Professor Alex Baldacchino

Professor in Medicine, Psychiatry and Addictions

Professor Baldacchino is Professor in Medicine, Psychiatry and Addictions at the St Andrews University in Scotland. He was awarded membership with the UK Royal College of Psychiatrists (MRCPsych) in 1994, Fellowship with the UK Royal College of Psychiatrists (FRCPsych) in 2007 and Fellow with the Royal College of Physicians (Edinburgh) (FRCPE) in 2017.

Since 2001 he has, alongside his academic career, also worked with NHS Scotland as a Senior Consultant Psychiatrist and Clinical Director in Addiction Medicine and in 2015 NHS Fife Research and Development (R&D) Director. He is President Elect and Executive Board Member for the International Society of Addiction Medicine (ISAM).

His research portfolio have a common thread of understanding the comorbid conditions (physical and psychological) arising as a result of chronic abuse of pharmacological agents with dependence potential especially opioids, nicotine and alcohol. He has around 150 peer reviewed publications

Linzi Wilson

Interim Innovation Support, NHS Fife

Linzi has worked in the NHS for 10 years in various departments including Out-patients, Multiple Sclerosis – Disease Modifying Treatments, and Research and Development (R&D). Having worked in R&D for 4 years, Linzi has experience in clinical research ranging from study set up to participant involvement. She has recently been appointed as R&D Approvals Assistant and is delighted to be working in the area of innovation as Innovations Support.

Linzi’s background is in film and marketing and she has extensive knowledge and experience in PR, marketing, festivals and entertainment.