Hello my name is… Dr Clark Crawford Head of Research and Development

March 25, 2019

Joining the Trust as Head of Research and Development, Dr Clark Crawford feels like he has come back to work among old friends, as he has history working with colleagues in R&D dating back to when he was a research facilitator for the school of cancer sciences at the University of Birmingham. With an academic background in oncology, (specifically leukaemia) Clark jumped at the chance of joining our R&D team, as he said: “When the job came up I already knew many of the team as I had worked well with them in the past, and respected them hugely.

“I’m really very excited about the role and things to come for R&D, as the way that we look at research is quite interesting. I believe that all clinical areas should be by their very nature research opportunity areas. In fact some of the best places to do certain types of research are in normal clinical settings.

“I’m also looking forward to the official opening of our new clinical research facility, looking at the way we grow our portfolio and develop our academic links.”

Clark’s most recent position was head of research and integrity at Keele University, where he worked for just over two years. Prior to that, he was head of R&D at Royal Cornwall Hospitals, before he moved back to the Midlands to be close to his parents.

Whilst working as a scientist in Dundee he wanted a creative outlet, so took on a part time degree in fine arts, majoring in sculpture. Working in concrete, rubber and paper, he enjoyed the discipline, but it wasn’t until his move to the Midlands that he discovered a love of clay when he signed up to classes at the Midlands Arts Centre.

Nowadays he is a committed potter, with a consuming passion for clay, which has taken over his free time, and several rooms in his house – as he chose a very large kiln to accommodate the sculptures he creates.

On arrival in Keele, he took a course at Newcastle under Lyme college, where his teacher was very keen for students to display their work, and from that he now sells pieces at a gallery in Manchester, that specialises in the different and the quirky, which he says perfectly describes the stocky little clay figures he loves to create.