Dr Carson, who is currently director of network development for the international clinical research network at the University of Oxford, has had a distinguished and wide-ranging career working with WHO on diseases including Ebola, Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever, H1N1, SARS and H5N1.

Professor May has been the interim CSO at UKHSA since September 2025. He is also Professor of Infectious Disease at the University of Birmingham and was previously chief scientific advisor at the Food Standards Agency.  

Professor Susan Hopkins, chief executive at UKHSA, said: ‘I am delighted to welcome Dr Gail Carson as our new chief medical advisor and to confirm Professor Robin May's permanent appointment as chief scientific officer.

‘Between them, they bring a wealth of clinical and scientific expertise, from frontline outbreak response to cutting-edge infectious disease research, that spans decades and reaches right across the globe.

‘Their knowledge and experience will be invaluable as we continue to deliver on UKHSA's mission to protect the public from health threats and I look forward to working with them both.'