Health Innovation Manchester (HInM) is delighted to announce the appointment of Paul Dark as its new Academic Director. 

Paul is an Anglo-Swiss senior clinical academic leader with extensive experience across higher education and healthcare. Graduating in Physics from the University of Salford and Medicine from The Manchester Medical School in 1989, he went on to study clinical academic surgery, emergency medicine and critical care at the Universities of Glasgow and Manchester, and at the Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium. 

He has held a substantive clinical academic post at the University of Manchester since 2003, combining NHS clinical leadership with research and teaching in critical care medicine. His work has included improving the diagnosis and management of severe infections and sepsis, including the development of new point of care technologies in partnership with industry. 

Paul has held several senior national academic leadership roles, including serving as NIHR Clinical Research Network’s National Deputy Medical Director from 2022 to 2024 and as NIHR National Specialty Lead for Critical Care. He currently holds senior academic leadership roles at the University of Manchester, including Vice Dean for Health and Care Partnerships, supporting collaboration across the NHS, academia and the wider health and care system. 

As Academic Director, Paul will assist with the integration of world‑class research with the NHS and social care across Greater Manchester. Working at executive level, he will drive innovation, align research activity with population needs and provide interface leadership for HInM in its next stage of development as an Academic Health Science Centre. 

Paul will work closely with the academic programme director, higher education institutions and NIHR infrastructures to strengthen partnerships locally and nationally. He will support deeper understanding of Greater Manchester’s data assets and their potential to enable research, helping to shape future development to meet Greater Manchester’s academic research priorities. Alongside this, he will build a pipeline of academic and commercial opportunities and oversee HInM’s contribution to major research grants and bid activity.  

On his appointment, Paul said: “I’m thrilled to be joining Health Innovation Manchester as Academic Director. This is an exciting time for health innovation in Greater Manchester and nationally, and I’m passionate about working with people, places and organisations to turn great ideas into better care. Building inclusive partnerships with communities, providers, civic leaders, universities and industry is how we make change that matters. It’s a real privilege to play a part in growing those connections and delivering impact at scale.” 

Ben Bridgewater, Chief Executive of HInM, said: “I’m delighted that Paul is joining Health Innovation Manchester as our new Academic Director. Strong academic leadership is central to our development and to our ability to turn world‑class research and innovation into real improvements for our patients and communities and drive local economic development. Paul brings deep experience across academia, the NHS and industry, and his appointment strengthens the vital link between these sectors as we continue to build an innovation ecosystem that delivers impact at scale across Greater Manchester.” 

Paul joined HInM on 1st April 2026 and will work one day a week as part of HInM’s executive leadership team.