The Royal Pharmaceutical Society has appointed Dr Diane Ashiru-Oredope, MPharm DipClinPharm MPH PhD PFPH FRPharmS FFRPS (consultant), as Deputy Chief Scientist (interim).  Dr Ashiru-Oredope will take up the part-time role in August for one year to support the work of RPS Chief Scientist, Professor Parastou Donyai.

Diane has been Lead Pharmacist for Healthcare-Associated Infections, Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) and Sepsis at the UK Health Security Agency (and its predecessors) since 2010.

In her role at UKHSA, she leads the development of national evidenced-based interventions to tackle antimicrobial resistance and chairs the English Surveillance Programme for Antimicrobial Use and Resistance (ESPAUR) including the annual report. Diane is the Honorary Chair and Professor of Pharmaceutical Public Health at the University of Nottingham and has authored more than 100 scientific papers and book chapters in the field of tackling AMR, infection management, pharmacy, global and public health.

Dr Diane Ashiru-Oredope said: "I am honoured and delighted to be joining the Royal Pharmaceutical Society as the Deputy Chief Scientist. I look forward to working alongside Professor Donyai and fostering strong collaborations with pharmacy colleagues, RPS members and stakeholders, to continue prioritising the integration of science and research as fundamental pillars in pharmacy; for the benefit of patients and the public.”

Paul Bennett, RPS CEO said: “I am delighted that Diane is able to join us as Deputy Chief Scientist and her appointment under Parastou’s existing leadership further strengthens our science and research team.

“Colleagues will recognise the fantastic contribution Diane has already made to our profession, and as a Fellow of RPS with many interests, perhaps most notably regarding her work on AMR, I know this recognition is well deserved. We all very much look forward to working with Diane in her new role.”

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