Backed by up to £600 million from the government and the Wellcome Trust, HDRS will provide a single, secure access point to NHS health data for approved researchers, cutting through red tape and accelerating the development of new medicines and therapies.

Dr Ivarsson brings extensive experience in healthcare innovation, having led Moderna’s Covid‑19 vaccine trials and held senior roles at Eli Lilly, Pfizer and Takeda. She also has a strong research background, with post‑doctoral work at New York University and Lund University. Speaking about her appointment, Dr Ivarsson said: “I am delighted to join HDRS as its first CEO. Having seen firsthand what we can achieve when health and care data is utilised for research, I’m excited to work across the four nations of the UK and with partners across the life sciences ecosystem to turn the HDRS ambition into reality.”

Robert Evans, Chief Executive of Wellcome Genome Campus, said: “Dr Ivarsson’s appointment marks a major step forward for the HDRS and we look forward to welcoming another major health data organisation to the Wellcome Genome Campus. HDRS will create exciting opportunities for collaboration and partnerships, building on the globally-leading biodata, genomics and data science ecosystem created by EMBL-EBI and the Wellcome Sanger Institute. As the Campus expands with new research and translation spaces, HDRS will enable health and life sciences research to move faster from insights to impact.”

The HDRS forms part of the government’s Plan for Change, which aims to build a future‑ready NHS using data and technology to improve healthcare for all. The service is expected to become operational by December this year and follows Baroness Nicola Blackwood’s appointment as HDRS Chair in November. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have agreed in principle to the UK‑wide ambition, ensuring benefits across all four nations.

Over the next few years, the overall size of the Wellcome Genome Campus will grow from 125 acres to 440 acres and the number people working on it is expected to increase from around 3,000 to 9,000 or more. Approved plans include 1.6 million square feet for R & D, laboratories, and commercial spaces, suitable for organisations of all shapes and sizes. The new workspaces could accommodate up to 250 organisations, or even more, depending on their size.