Professor Deenan Pillay, non-executive director
University nominated Non-Executive Director
Current term of office: 19 August 2021 - 18 August 2022 (first appointed 19 August 2019)
Deenan is a clinical virologist and also Professor of Virology at University College London (UCL). With a PhD in Biochemistry as well as medical training, his first consultant post was in Birmingham, moving in 2003 to University College London (UCL). His leadership roles have included being Director of UCL’s Division of Infection and Immunity, Infectious Diseases Programme, Director for UCL Partners, and Director of the UCL Hospital / UCL National Institute for Health Research Biomedical Research Centre.
In 2013 he was appointed as Director of the Wellcome Trust-funded Africa Centre for Population Health in northern KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, and led its expansion to become the Africa Health Research Institute. This now employs over 600 staff to undertake cross disciplinary research in a setting of immense health burden. He stepped down from this position in July 2019, to return to UCL, where he is also Pro Vice Provost (International).
His involvement in the Covid-19 response includes being a member of Independent Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE), providing advice to the public and policy recommendations.