Proton Partners International today announced that it has strengthened its senior executive team with two key appointments.
The company has appointed Lis Neil as chief operating officer, formerly operations director of diagnostic and specialist services at Nuffield Health, and Dr Ian Barwick as chief scientific officer, formerly chief operating officer at the Life Sciences Hub Wales.
With 25 years of senior healthcare experience, Lis Neil will be responsible for daily operations, such as commissioning new facilities and ensuring the quality, efficiency and safety of services offered by Proton Partners. As chief scientific officer, Dr Ian Barwick will play an integral role in driving patient-led research to ensure Proton Partners makes a valuable contribution to the future of cancer treatment.
Mike Moran, chief executive officer of Proton Partners International, said: “Lis and Ian both have decades of experience in health and scientific research, and I am delighted they have joined our team.”
Lis Neil said: “It is an honour to join Proton Partners at such an exciting time for the company. Not only is Proton Partners at the forefront of bringing proton beam therapy to the UK, but it is also becoming one of the fastest growing oncology companies in the world.”
Dr Ian Barwick said: “The company’s investment in technology and research will go a long way to developing our knowledge of proton beam therapy in the treatment of cancer.”
Mike Moran added: “Research is central to our work. Ian’s experience in analysing data and engaging with the NHS will be essential in ensuring our goals are translated into clinical reality.
“Proton Partners is focused on offering the most cutting edge cancer treatments available, as well as carrying out extensive research programmes to drive discovery and improve understanding of proton beam therapy in treating cancer. This data will not only be useful for our purposes but we hope to share it with our clinical partners and stakeholders.
“Through our centres, we aim to develop a world-class cancer service as well as contribute to the broader research effort to improve cancer care for patients. We are currently building three UK centres, but we have plans for two more, and therefore Lis will be leading a team of staff to ensure the company’s goals become a reality.”
Proton Partners International is currently constructing three cancer centres in the UK – in Newport, South Wales, Bomarsund, Northumberland and Reading, Berkshire – all of which will offer proton beam therapy, conventional radiotherapy, chemotherapy, imaging and wellbeing.
The company recently announced that it will be building a research and data centre in Liverpool which will collate, analyse and distribute data from the cancer centres to support the broader research work. Proton Partners is also funding a two-year research programme with the Department of Physics at the University of Liverpool to demonstrate the efficacy of proton beam therapy. Proton Partners intends to run similar research projects in Wales with both Cardiff and Swansea Universities.
