Top doctor to lead drive to develop medical innovations for patients
Barts Health NHS Trust has appointed Professor Rakesh Uppal to lead its pioneering programme to accelerate the adoption of cutting-edge healthcare inventions.
A consultant cardiac surgeon at St Bartholomew’s hospital, Prof Uppal will take up a new role as Chief Executive Officer of Barts Life Sciences (BLS) from April.
He will oversee a renewed drive to strengthen collaboration between industry, academia and our hospitals in order to translate clinical research into drugs and devices that can transform patient care and improve health outcomes.
The appointment follows the creation of the Barts Life Sciences Cluster, in which the trust has partnered with leading real estate firms to develop under-used land around The Royal London hospital in Whitechapel.
With one of the most diverse patient populations in the world on our doorstep, BLS and the cluster will not only facilitate research into new treatments but deploy them to reduce health inequalities among some of our most disadvantaged communities.
Prof Uppal is the surgical research lead for the Barts Heart Centre and Professor of Cardiovascular Surgery at Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, part of Queen Mary University of London. His distinguished medical career was recognised in 2024 by being awarded the FRCS (Ad Hominem) by the Royal College of Surgeons Edinburgh.
Prof Uppal is also a board member and advisor to health‑tech, biotech and fintech companies, and as medical director for BLS has played a key role in connecting NHS expertise with the UK’s growing technology and investment ecosystem.
He said:
I intend to take forward Barts Life Sciences by expanding our national and international partnerships, building closer commercial and academic collaborations, and ensuring that data, digital platforms and new technologies are rapidly translated into better outcomes for patients in the NHS.
Shane DeGaris, group chief executive of Barts Health NHS Trust, said:
Having built his career in the NHS and abroad, Rakesh understands the strengths of our clinicians, our research community and our diverse population. His ability to bring industry, academia and the NHS together around real patient needs is precisely the leadership our growing innovation ecosystem requires.