Dr Richard Turkington Joins Almac Diagnostic Services to Support Biomarker Research
Belfast, N.I., 07 October 2021– Almac Diagnostic Services is delighted to announce Dr Richard Turkington has joined its management team as UK Medical Director to further support biomarker research and clinical trial delivery.
Bringing together academia, industry and healthcare stakeholders, this unique collaboration creates alignment of academic insight and industrial capability in the field of personalised medicine. As part of the Innovate UK funded Innovation Scholar award, the appointment will see Dr Turkington, who is currently Clinical Senior Lecturer in Medical Oncology at the Patrick G Johnston Centre for Cancer Research, Queen’s University Belfast and an Honorary Consultant at the Northern Ireland Cancer Centre, join the Almac team for three years.
As medicine is transitioning from a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach to more personalised treatments, it is clear more robust biomarker tests are needed to guide treatment decisions. Richard has over 10 years’ experience in personalised medicine and leads an academic research group focussed on improving outcomes for patients with oesophageal and gastric cancer through biomarker-led clinical trials. During his tenure, Dr Turkington will be integral to the validation of new biomarkers and their implementation in international clinical trials in collaboration with Almac’s pharmaceutical industrial clients.
He commented: “I am delighted to join the team at Almac Diagnostic Services and hope that the array of experience I have can help build upon the excellent foundations that are already in place. As a biomarker expert and clinical triallist, the addition of my role will enhance the excellent research and development carried out by Almac Diagnostic Services in biomarkers and support our goal of providing personalised treatment for patients globally."
Professor Paul Harkin, Managing Director & President, Almac Diagnostic Services said: “Dr Turkington’s wealth of experience and insight into precision medicine is a true asset to our team and we are delighted that he is joining us. His unique position will see him working at the intersection of academia and industry which will benefit the wider healthcare infrastructure and ultimately patients by providing effective, precise and tailored treatments.”
