Association of Medical Research Charities CEO steps down due to ill-health

The chief executive of the Association of Medical Research Charities (AMRC) Aisling Burnand is stepping down after being diagnosed with late stage bowel cancer in January.

Burnand said “life has changed” in announcing the news and said she will continue to be an adviser to the sector organisation from September until the end of the year.

She said she has been “responding positively to treatment” and “my thoughts for 2022 are to continue to support the sector using my experience and patient experience as well as providing mentoring and coaching support”.



AMRC has launched a search for a new CEO adding that “these are big shoes to fill”.

The organisation said: “It is an exciting time to take on this key role for medical research charities with challenges including continuing to respond to the impact of the pandemic; building profile with key audiences - particularly governments (national and devolved) and the life sciences and health tech sector.”

The AMRC had initially advertised the new role without specifying the salary. But following concerns raised by the Show the Salary campaign and other charity professionals on social media this has been rectified.



Show the Salary campaigns against salary secrecy, which it argues can lead to discrimination and bias in recruitment.

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