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McKinlay takes new director of research and advocacy role at Myeloma UK

Written by: Editor
Published on: 17 Oct 2022

Myeloma UKBlood cancer treatment access and policy expert to embed patient-led outcomes in next strategic phase 

Myeloma UK, the national charity for the incurable blood cancer myeloma, has appointed Shelagh McKinlay as its new Director of Research & Advocacy. 

The position is a new role for Myeloma UK, consolidating the full portfolio of the charity’s clinical and health services research alongside its policy, drug access and clinical practice focus. 

Commenting on the new post, Chief Executive Dr Sophie Castell said: “As we develop our next strategy, the time is right to consolidate all our insight and influencing work into a single space. Everything needs to be driven by how we achieve change and improve outcomes for myeloma patients. We now have a greater line of sight into the multiple challenges ahead in cancer treatment and care post pandemic, and we must approach that holistically and with a clear vision of impact. Pulling together our work with clinicians, policymakers and healthcare professionals into a single space enables us to not just be bold in our vision of change but also in how we work with partners to achieve it.” 

Shelagh McKinlay has been acting Director of Research at Myeloma UK for the last six months.

She holds 25 years’ experience in high profile policy roles, with over eight years of experience specialising in policy and treatment access in blood cancer.

Recently, McKinlay served on a task and finish group as part of the NICE Methods Review as well as taking up membership of a working group looking at NICE processes.

She led the team that earlier this year produced the report, ‘A Life Worth Living’, which focused on the importance of quality-of-life outcomes to patients with the incurable blood cancer myeloma; benchmarks which the charity is currently pressing to be recognised in the English and Scottish cancer strategies. 

Shelagh McKinlay said: “Patient need is at the very heart of the work we do at Myeloma UK and it’s very exciting to be leading our next phase of work. Over the last 25 years, the charity alongside the myeloma community has transformed the picture of what living with myeloma is like. As we move forward, we need to be looking at how we bring research, treatment and the delivery of care together to deliver not just a longer life but a better life for all our patients.”

Her appointment is effective immediately. 

For more information about myeloma or to get in touch with Myeloma UK go to www.myeloma.org.uk. Myeloma UK runs an Infoline on 0800 980 3332.