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New Chair appointed
Professor Haggard is a well known and respected figure in the deafness and medical research communities, and served as a trustee and Chief Research Adviser for the charity for over 15 years before becoming an honorary Vice-President in 2002.
Vivienne Michael, Chief Executive of Deafness Research UK, said: “Mark is exceptionally well qualified to be our Chairman. He brings to the table a profound understanding of the aims, methods, and potential of hearing research to change the lives of millions.
“Over the years Mark’s unique knowledge of the field has enabled us to work strategically, make the most of our resources and maximise the impact of our work. He has helped us ensure that the charity maintains the highest standards of excellence in research through establishing its peer review system, and contributed greatly to establishing the charity as the UK’s leading medical research charity for deaf and hard of hearing people.
“Recently Mark has helped to initiate and support several notable partnerships including our work on hearing loss in children with GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and our partnership with the Ministry of Defence which we hope will help tackle the huge problem of hearing loss in the military. I am sure that, in his role as Chairman, Mark will continue to spearhead links such as these that help us deliver real benefits to those affected by these neglected conditions.”
Commenting on his appointment, Professor Haggard said, “I am delighted to be taking over the chairmanship of Deafness Research UK. The charity has already helped bring about significant advances in the diagnosis and treatment of deafness. Research today holds more promise than ever before but at a time when it is not realistic to expect any increase in public funding, I am looking forward to a more active role once more, ensuring the continued development of the third sector. DRUK’s role in hearing research has been unique and highly respected work in recent years, and there are significant challenges and opportunities in the years ahead.”
Professor Haggard was the founding Director of the Medical Research Council’s Institute of Hearing Research in Nottingham from 1977, before moving in 2002 to Cambridge to concentrate on his own research. He teaches research methods at the University of Cambridge in 2002 he continues to teach there on research methods and studies the causes, consequences and treatments for Otitis Media (Glue Ear), the most common cause of hearing impairment, and of surgical operations, in childhood. Previously he was Visiting Fellow at Haskins Laboratories New York, Fellow of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge and Professor of Psychology at Queen’s University Belfast.
Professor Haggard takes over from former Deafness Research UK Chairman, David Livermore OBE.
