WHP appoints new Academic Directors

We have appointed four new Academic Directors to help guide our work. The team will support the partnership to develop and thrive, driving forward our mission to accelerate improvements in health and care. They will lead WHP’s regional approach to the development and delivery of research, innovation and training which meets local population health needs and benefits wider society with global impact.

Prof William Rosenberg, WHP Chair, said: "The recruitment of our outstanding Academic Directors brings great strength to our leadership team. Each is a distinguished researcher in their field and university whose complementary strengths will help us shape our partners' research agenda. We are very fortunate to be able to call upon such excellent academic leaders and I am excited to welcome them to the WHP leadership team."

Bournemouth University: Professor Mel Hughes

Professor Mel Hughes is a leading figure in social work education and research at Bournemouth University (BU), known for her commitment to inclusive, community-led approaches and amplifying seldom heard voices. 

As a senior academic at Bournemouth University, Prof Hughes leads initiatives that champion lived experience in education and research. As Academic Lead for the PIER (Public Involvement in Education and Research) Partnership and Director of the National Centre for Cross-Disciplinary Social Work, she is well known for her commitment to inclusive, participatory approaches that amplify seldom heard voices. Her work spans co-produced research, arts-based methodologies, and community-led education, with a focus on empowering individuals affected by social and health inequalities. Through her leadership, Professor Hughes has made significant contributions to shaping socially responsive and ethically grounded social work practice.

She said: "I am delighted to have been appointed to this role. There is so much potential for collaboration across Wessex to advance health and social care research. This provides an opportunity to involve more BU research colleagues and our wider community networks in larger research collaborations and to amplify our work across the region. I am looking forward to getting started."

Health Sciences University: Dr Michelle Holmes

Dr Michelle Holmes is a Senior Lecturer in Workforce Development at Health Sciences University, where she leads initiatives to strengthen and transform the health and social care workforce. With a background in health services research and allied health education, Dr Holmes plays a pivotal role in curriculum development and stakeholder engagement through the university’s Centre for Workforce and Systems Innovation. Her work focuses on building workforce capacity via training, apprenticeships, and the development of complex interventions that improve patient outcomes and service delivery. As Professional Development Framework

Michelle is Lead and Senior Lecturer in Research Methods, and collaborates with healthcare professionals and patient groups to promote inclusive, evidence-based approaches to workforce transformation, both locally and in response to national priorities.

She said: “I am delighted to take on the Academic Director role for Health Sciences University. This is a brilliant opportunity to strengthen the collaboration across our region, aligning activities to tackle the challenges of Wessex, supporting both the health and social care workforce and outcomes for patients and communities.” 

University of Portsmouth: Dr Tim Exell

Dr Tim Exell is Associate Professor of Biomechanics and Rehabilitation Science at the University of Portsmouth, where he also serves as Director of the Centre for Integrated Health and Wellbeing. He completed his undergraduate and doctoral studies in Sport and Exercise Science at Cardiff Metropolitan University, focusing on biomechanical asymmetry during running. His postdoctoral research at the University of Southampton explored innovative technologies for stroke rehabilitation, including marker-less tracking and functional electrical stimulation. Since joining Portsmouth in 2015, Dr Exell has contributed extensively to research ethics, international scientific boards, and collaborative projects across Europe, including as a visiting researcher at the University of Ostrava in the Czech Republic.

He said: “I am delighted to be joining WHP and to work with my fellow academic directors and the WHP team. I am particularly excited to continue developing meaningful collaboration within the region to address the most pressing health challenges facing Wessex. We have clear research excellence within all WHP organisations and I am confident that by working together we can more effectively improve the health and wellbeing of those living here and beyond."

University of Southampton: Professor Saul Faust

Saul Faust is Professor and consultant of paediatric immunology and infectious diseases at the University of Southampton and University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust. He is well known for his work in adult and paediatric vaccine clinical trials. Professor Faust holds multiple roles, including Director of the NIHR Southampton Clinical Research Facility, Co-Health and Care Director for the NIHR Wessex Regional Research Delivery Network, National Research Delivery Network co-lead for Children, Co-Director of the NIHR Wessex Commercial Research Delivery Centre and NIHR Senior Investigator. Saul’s research bridges clinical and laboratory science, focusing on developing new vaccines and diagnostics to protect children and adults from infectious diseases. He has played a key role in national and international vaccine trials, including as UK Chief Investigator for the COVBOOST trial, which evaluated COVID-19 booster vaccines. 

He said: “As one of the WHP’s Academic Directors, I look forward to linking Southampton-based academics with other researchers across the region to drive new collaborations. Linking expertise in this way is key to being able to compete successfully for funding to accelerate improvements in health and care. Not only will this help address the region’s most pressing health needs, but also speed up change nationally and internationally.”