Adeeba joins leadership team as deputy Chief Operating Officer
Adeeba Asghar has been appointed deputy Chief Operating Officer at CRN North Thames.
She moves formally into the role after a period of acting up as the Chief Operating Officer, before Dr Sharon Barrett took up that post in March.
Adeeba, who has been with the network since April 2016, brings to the role a substantial understanding of the NIHR and the wider research landscape.
She has held a variety of research-related roles, beginning her career as a research officer at NHS Frimley Health NHS Trust, following a degree in Pharmacology at the University of Hertfordshire.
Undertaking research related modules during her degree meant that the research job opportunity, when it came up, was appealing to her. Her love for research was consolidated further when she completed a Master's in Health and Social Care from the University of Sheffield and more recently a postgraduate diploma in Health with the University of Bath.
Adeeba explained: “I had the chance to work in research after initially going for an admin role – it just came up and it felt like the right fit for me.”
From there, Adeeba developed her career, including positions with University College London NHS Foundation Trust, the CRN Coordinating Centre, CRN Thames Valley and South Midlands, before joining CRN North Thames five years ago, initially as a Research Delivery Manager.
Adeeba is particularly strong on research management and governance (RM&G), and among numerous other achievements was central in leading and contributing to the development, implementation, and ongoing improvement of the RM&G initiatives and systems throughout her career.
Adeeba said she was excited to be stepping into the new role: “I am very pleased to formally join the CRN North Thames leadership team and to have the opportunity to continue working with you all. Everyone has worked very hard over the past year, and even though there is still a lot to do, it's exciting to be part of what we will go on to achieve over the coming months and years."
Dr Sharon Barrett, Chief Operating Officer at CRN North Thames, added: "Adeeba has worked for the NIHR for a number of years now and did a phenomenal job last year stepping into the acting COO role and leading the team at North Thames. There were huge successes under her management and we are delighted with her appointment.”
