New Director Designate announced for NIHR GOSH Biomedical Research Centre

Professor Paul Gissen has been announced as the Director Designate of the National Institute for Health and Care Research GOSH Biomedical Research Centre (NIHR GOSH BRC).

The NIHR GOSH BRC is a collaboration between Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) and the UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health (UCL GOS ICH). Funded for four consecutive terms by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), the NIHR GOSH BRC is the only centre of its kind that solely focuses on paediatric research. We were first awarded Biomedical Research Centre status 2007 and we provide cutting-edge facilities and world-leading expertise and access to over 200 rare disease patient populations allowing our staff and NHS, university and industry collaborators to conduct pioneering translational research into childhood illnesses.

Professor Gissen currently leads the centre’s very successful Gene, Stem and Cellular Therapies Theme at the NIHR GOSH BRC. He has been a Clinical Professor of Paediatric Metabolic Medicine at UCL GOS ICH, and Honorary Consultant in Paediatric Metabolic Diseases at GOSH since 2013.

As Director Designate, he will lead the development of the next bid for the GOSH and UCL GOS ICH partnership to be awarded the status of NIHR Biomedical Research Centre. Pending a successful award, Professor Gissen will take up his Directorship from April 2028. He succeeds Professor Thomas Voit who has been Director since 2017.

Professor Gissen obtained his medical degree from the University of Glasgow and trained in paediatrics at Manchester, Sheffield and Birmingham Children’s Hospitals specialising in inherited metabolic disorders. He undertook his PhD as a Children’s Nationwide Clinical Research Fellow at Birmingham University where he contributed to the identification of genetic causes of several rare paediatric diseases in Eamonn Maher’s group. He set up his own laboratory as a GSK Clinician Scientist to investigate intracellular trafficking defects in Arthrogryposis, Renal Dysfunction and Cholestasis syndrome. Paul moved to UCL in 2011 as a Senior Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Fellow. While at UCL he became interested in developing novel therapies for paediatric disorders. Working with collaborators, his laboratory uses RNA and DNA based approaches, viral and non-viral vectors to develop treatments for rare disorder patients with high unmet need. In parallel he has been a principal investigator for multiple industry and academic clinical trials of novel therapies.

Mr Mat Shaw, our Chief Executive Officer said: “I’m absolutely delighted that Paul will be leading our efforts to secure a fifth term as an NIHR Biomedical Research Centre. For over a decade, he has been at the forefront of pioneering research and innovation at GOSH. His leadership, vision, and unwavering commitment to improving outcomes for children make him the ideal person to guide us into this next chapter. I look forward to working closely with him and our partners as we continue to push the boundaries of paediatric research.”

Dr Kiki Syrad, Director of Research and Innovation at GOSH: I’m delighted to welcome Professor Gissen as Director Designate of the NIHR GOSH BRC. His appointment reflects the strength and depth of talent within our research community. I look forward to working with him as we build on the strong foundations of our Centre and continue to drive forward our shared ambition to deliver world-leading paediatric research that transforms care for children.

The Director of the UCL GOS Institute of Child Health, Professor Helen Cross also welcomed Professor Gissen: “I am delighted that we have been able to secure Paul to lead our bid for a further term of the NIHR Biomedical Research Centre. Paul has enormous experience in the development of new therapies. I look forward to continuing to work with him as we move toward the next chapter in rare disease and delivering specialised treatments for our patients.

On his appointment, Professor Gissen said, “I am truly honoured and excited to take on the role of Director Designate of the UK’s only paediatric NIHR Biomedical Research Centre. It’s a privilege to lead the bid for such a unique and vital institution. I look forward to working closely with the brilliant scientists and clinicians at GOSH and UCL GOS ICH as we shape the next BRC application and continue advancing research that transforms the lives of children and their families.”