First MHRA Board meeting held in Scotland, underlining agency’s commitment to regional health equality and growth
The Board of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has met in Scotland for the first time ever, reinforcing the agency’s commitment to delivering its health and innovation priorities across the UK.
The meeting took place at the Royal College of Surgeons in Edinburgh, which is the oldest surgical college in the world.
Alongside the MHRA’s new CEO Lawrence Tallon, MHRA Chair Professor Anthony Harnden and the board members, the meeting was attended by a number of important Scottish representatives from healthcare and government, including Chief Pharmaceutical Officer Alison Strath and Head of the Chief Medical Officer’s Policy Division Greig Chalmers.
The discussions centered on the MHRA’s commitment to delivering the agency’s priorities in Scotland and served as an opportunity for the MHRA to listen to the experiences and ideas of those in attendance.
The MHRA Board was one of several engagements between leading MHRA officials and Scottish representatives across the country as part of the trip, including with the Director of the University of Edinburgh’s Usher Institute Professor Cathie Sudlow, NHS Lothian Research and Development Director Professor Alasdair Gray, and officials from DataLoch and Research Data Scotland.
After the Board meeting, HISES hosted a joint meeting at the Usher Institute, The University of Edinburgh with leads from the research, development and innovation ecosystem from NHS Lothian/South East Scotland and the University of Edinburgh to cover RD&I environment and support, inclusive of translational research and commercialisation, access to data and an understanding of the VPAG Investment Programme and implementation plans in NHS Lothian. Presentations on the agenda were well received from Professor Alasdair Gray, Samantha Smith-Garrett, Jane Redford Edinburgh Innovations, Kathy Harrison and Roger Halliday.
MHRA colleagues enjoyed an exclusive Tour of the Institute for Regeneration and Repair and Good Manufacturing Practice and Tour of the Usher Building (including Resolution Therapeutics – clinical trials and data experts) as part of the agenda for MHRA colleagues.
We also heard from DataLoch (regional Data Safe Haven) Data-Driven Innovation Initiative and Research Data Scotland around the data landscape in the South East and across Scotland and the opportunities that present from a data rich country.
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MHRA Chair, Professor Anthony HarndenThis isn’t just a change of location — it’s a meaningful step in our commitment to being a truly national regulator.
The MHRA’s work serves the whole of the UK, and that means we must spend time in every part of it, listening, learning, and building partnerships rooted in mutual respect and shared ambition.
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MHRA Chief Executive, Lawrence TallonIt is absolutely vital that the voices of all four nations and regional partners are involved in discussions about the MHRA’s strategic direction.
Strong regional and national engagement helps ensure that the work the MHRA does to protect public health, drive innovation and boost growth serves not just England but the whole of the UK.
This isn’t a ‘one-off’, it’s a step change. I look forward to meeting other regional partners in due course.
The board meeting fell on International Clinical Trials Day and is another example of how the MHRA is driving forward innovation and growth throughout the UK.
From left: Greig Chalmers, Prof. Anthony Harnden, Alison Strath and Lawrence Tallon