Gillian Leng

{{short description|British physician, administrator and academic}}

{{Infobox medical person

| honorific_prefix =

| name = Gillian Leng, Lady Cosford

| honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|country=UK|size=100%|CBE}}

| image = Gill Leng (1).jpg

| image_size =

| alt =

| caption =

| birth_name = Gillian Catherine Leng

| birth_date =

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| death_date =

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| nationality =

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| education = University of Leeds

| occupation =

| years_active =

| known_for = *Former Chief Executive, National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE)

President of the Royal Society of Medicine (2024)

| relations = Sir Paul Cosford (spouse)

| website =

| profession =Physician

| field =Public health

| work_institutions =*National Institute for Health and Care Excellence

}}

Gillian Catherine Leng, Lady Cosford CBE is a British health administrator, academic, visiting professor at King's College London and the former Chief Executive of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), where she was responsible for several programmes and guidelines including the guidelines on COVID-19. In 2024 she became president of the Royal Society of Medicine (RSM).

She has been involved in the Cochrane collaboration since its foundation, and has worked on clinical trials and epidemiological research in public health medicine. She also teaches at the NUS Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health.

Education

Gillian Leng gained her medical degree from the University of Leeds in 1987, having previously gained a degree in physiology.{{cite web |last1=Davies |first1=Emma |title=Leeds Alumni Magazine {{!}} Guiding light |url=https://magazine.alumni.leeds.ac.uk/guiding-light/ |website=magazine.alumni.leeds.ac.uk |access-date=11 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220111120501/https://magazine.alumni.leeds.ac.uk/guiding-light/ |archive-date=11 January 2022 |date=2022}} She completed her house jobs at St James's University Hospital and subsequently moved to Scotland to work as a senior house officer in cancer care and in accident and emergency. She received her MD in 1994.

Career

Leng has been involved in the Cochrane collaboration since its foundation.{{cite web |url=http://www.festivalofpublichealth.co.uk/keynotespeakers/pastkeynotespeakers/professorgillianlengcbe/ |title=Professor Gillian Leng CBE |work=International Festival of Public Health |access-date=29 December 2020}} She worked on clinical trials and epidemiological research in Edinburgh, and in London as a consultant in public health medicine.{{cite journal |title=Gillian Leng |journal=British Medical Medical Journal |date=13 December 2014 |url=https://www.bmj.com/bmj/section-pdf/816196?path=/bmj/349/7987/Observations.full.pdf}}

Leng participated as a keynote speaker at the 2015 International Festival of Public Health.{{Cite web |date=2015 |title=International Festival of Public Health UK 2015 |url=http://www.festivalofpublichealth.co.uk/media/mhs/festivalofpublichealth/Festival-Programme-2015-FINAL-FULL.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220615153143/http://www.festivalofpublichealth.co.uk/media/mhs/festivalofpublichealth/Festival-Programme-2015-FINAL-FULL.pdf |archive-date=2022-06-15 |access-date=2022-06-15 |website=International Festival of Public Health}} She was also speaker at the World Neuroscience Innovation Forum in 2017, where she discussed gene therapy and cell therapy in treating neurological diseases.{{Cite web |title=Gillian Leng, MD |url=https://neuroscienceinnovationforum.org/speakers/gillian-leng-md-deputy-chief-executive-director-health-social-care-national-institute-health-care-excellence/ |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220615035823/https://neuroscienceinnovationforum.org/speakers/gillian-leng-md-deputy-chief-executive-director-health-social-care-national-institute-health-care-excellence/ |archive-date=2022-06-15 |access-date=2022-06-15 |website=World Neuroscience Innovation Forum |language=en-US}} She then spoke at the ISPOR Summit 2018.{{Cite web |title=Gillian Leng, CBE |url=https://www.ispor.org/conferences-education/conferences/past-conferences/ispor-summit-2018/program/speakers/speaker/gillian-leng-cbe |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220615160806/https://www.ispor.org/conferences-education/conferences/past-conferences/ispor-summit-2018/program/speakers/speaker/gillian-leng-cbe |archive-date=2022-06-15 |access-date=2022-06-15 |website=ISPOR {{!}} International Society For Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research |language=en}}

Leng delivered a presentation for the European Society of Cardiology at an event titled Digital Health 2019.{{Cite web |date=2019 |title=A NICE perspective on real world evidence. Session at Digital Health 2019 |url=https://esc365.escardio.org/presentation/201414 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220615200035/https://esc365.escardio.org/presentation/201414 |archive-date=2022-06-15 |access-date=2022-06-15 |website=ESC 365 |language=en}}

She became Deputy Chief Executive at the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) in 2007.{{cite web |title=NICE appoints Professor Gillian Leng as new chief executive |url=https://www.nationalhealthexecutive.com/News/nice-professor-gillian-leng/248591 |website=www.nationalhealthexecutive.com |access-date=11 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201031164015/https://www.nationalhealthexecutive.com/News/nice-professor-gillian-leng/248591 |archive-date=31 October 2020}} In April 2020, during the first COVID-19 lockdown, she succeeded Andrew Dillon as the CEO of NICE.{{cite journal|last1=Robinson|first1=Julia|date=30 December 2020|title=Gillian Leng: 'COVID-19 has been a strain, but also an opportunity'|url=https://pharmaceutical-journal.com/article/feature/gillian-leng-covid-19-has-been-a-strain-but-also-an-opportunity|journal=The Pharmaceutical Journal|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220111123225/https://pharmaceutical-journal.com/article/feature/gillian-leng-covid-19-has-been-a-strain-but-also-an-opportunity|archive-date=11 January 2022}} There, she oversaw the creation of new guidelines on COVID-19. Previously she was responsible for the initial set up and running of NICE's clinical guidelines programme, for establishing the NICE implementation function, and for setting up NHS Evidence.{{cite web |title=Professor Gillian Leng CBE (The University of Manchester) |url=http://www.festivalofpublichealth.co.uk/keynotespeakers/pastkeynotespeakers/professorgillianlengcbe/ |website=www.festivalofpublichealth.co.uk |access-date=11 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220111110802/http://www.festivalofpublichealth.co.uk/keynotespeakers/pastkeynotespeakers/professorgillianlengcbe/ |archive-date=11 January 2022}} Her other roles included being responsible for the NICE accreditation programme, guideline development in social care, and the NICE programmes of indicators and quality standards.

She is visiting professor at King's College London, and teaches at NUS Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health.{{cite web |title=Gillian Leng |url=https://sph.nus.edu.sg/faculty-directory/leng-gillian/ |website=sph.nus.edu.sg |publisher=NUS Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health |access-date=24 March 2022}} She is a trustee and former chair of the Guidelines International Network.{{Cite journal |last1=Toolan |first1=Michael |last2=Maisuria |first2=Roshni |date=2021-04-27 |title=Ten minutes with Professor Gillian Leng, Chief Executive, National Institute for Health and Care Excellence |url=https://bmjleader.bmj.com/content/early/2021/04/26/leader-2021-000472 |journal=BMJ Leader |volume=6 |issue=2 |language=en |pages=161–162 |doi=10.1136/leader-2021-000472 |pmid=36170521 |s2cid=233416233 |issn=2398-631X|url-access=subscription }} She is also a member of the steering committee of the International Guideline Development Credentialing & Certification Program (INGUIDE).{{Cite web |title=About |url=https://inguide.org/about |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220610041641/https://inguide.org/about |archive-date=2022-06-10 |access-date=2022-06-15 |website=INGUIDE}}

Leng is a member of the Global Commission on Evidence to Address Societal Challenges.{{Cite web |title=Gillian Leng |url=https://www.mcmasterforum.org/networks/evidence-commission/about-us/bio/gillian-leng |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220614224959/https://www.mcmasterforum.org/networks/evidence-commission/about-us/bio/gillian-leng |archive-date=2022-06-14 |access-date=2022-06-15 |website=McMaster Health Forum}} The commission is a partnership spawned out of COVID-END, with leadership from McMaster University and the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute.{{Cite web |date=January 2022 |title=1.5 Connection to COVID-END |url=https://www.mcmasterforum.org/docs/default-source/evidence-commission/sections/1.5-connection-to-covid-end.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220221174944/https://www.mcmasterforum.org/docs/default-source/evidence-commission/sections/1.5-connection-to-covid-end.pdf?sfvrsn=8703b6ee_19 |archive-date=2022-02-21 |access-date=2022-06-15 |website=McMaster Health Forum}}

In May 2022, Leng was appointed to the advisory board of consulting firm Brevia Health.{{Cite web |last= |date=2022-05-27 |title=Professor Gillian Leng CBE joins Brevia Health |url=http://www.publicaffairsnetworking.com/news/professor-gillian-leng-cbe-joins-brevia-health |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220615073145/https://www.publicaffairsnetworking.com/news/professor-gillian-leng-cbe-joins-brevia-health |archive-date=2022-06-15 |access-date=2022-06-15 |website=Public Affairs Networking |language=en}} The RSM appointed her their dean of education in October 2022.{{cite web |title=Professor Gillian Leng CBE appointed Dean of Education at the Royal Society of Medicine |url=https://www.rsm.ac.uk/media-releases/2022/professor-gillian-leng-cbe-appointed-dean-of-education-at-the-royal-society-of-medicine/ |website=www.rsm.ac.uk |date=17 October 2022 |access-date=21 October 2022 |language=en-gb}}

Awards and honours

Leng was awarded a CBE in the 2011 Birthday Honours.{{cite news|author= |url=https://www.theguardian.com/healthcare-network/2013/may/10/gillian-leng-nice-deputy-chief-executive |title=Five minutes with ... Prof Gillian Leng, deputy chief executive of Nice | Healthcare Professionals Network |work=The Guardian |date= 10 May 2013|access-date=4 September 2015}} She was appointed honorary librarian at the RSM, London, in 2017.{{cite web |title=Professor Gillian Leng announced as RSM Honorary Librarian {{!}} The Royal Society of Medicine |url=https://www.rsm.ac.uk/latest-news/2017/professor-gillian-leng-announced-as-rsm-honorary-librarian/ |website=www.rsm.ac.uk |access-date=11 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220111152130/https://www.rsm.ac.uk/latest-news/2017/professor-gillian-leng-announced-as-rsm-honorary-librarian/ |archive-date=11 January 2022 |language=en-gb |date=15 May 2017}} In 2023 she was elected president-elect of the RSM.{{cite web |title=Professor Gillian Leng CBE elected next President of the Royal Society of Medicine |url=https://www.rsm.ac.uk/latest-news/2023/professor-gillian-leng-cbe-elected-next-president-of-the-royal-society-of-medicine/ |website=www.rsm.ac.uk |access-date=14 July 2023 |language=en-gb |date=27 June 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230714193353/https://www.rsm.ac.uk/latest-news/2023/professor-gillian-leng-cbe-elected-next-president-of-the-royal-society-of-medicine/|archive-date=14 July 2023}} She became the RSM's 109th president on 23 July 2024.{{cite web |title=Professor Gillian Leng CBE vows to "look to the future" as she becomes RSM President |url=https://www.rsm.ac.uk/latest-news/2024/professor-gillian-leng-cbe-vows-to-look-to-the-future-as-she-becomes-rsm-president/ |website=www.rsm.ac.uk |access-date=26 July 2024 |language=en-gb |date=31 July 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240726083114/https://www.rsm.ac.uk/latest-news/2024/professor-gillian-leng-cbe-vows-to-look-to-the-future-as-she-becomes-rsm-president/|archive-date=26 July 2024}}

Personal and family

She married Paul Cosford in 2006.{{cite news |last1=Gregory |first1=Andrew |title='My husband had a bad death — he suffered. It shouldn't be like that' |url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/healthcare/article/my-husband-had-a-bad-death-he-suffered-it-shouldnt-be-like-that-5w2dw73b2 |access-date=11 January 2022 |date=15 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220111155241/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/my-husband-had-a-bad-death-he-suffered-it-shouldnt-be-like-that-5w2dw73b2 |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-status=live |language=en}} Following his death in 2021, she announced her retirement from NICE;{{cite web |title=Professor Gillian Leng to retire as NICE Chief Executive |url=https://www.guidelines.co.uk/news/professor-gillian-leng-to-retire-as-nice-chief-executive/456316.article |website=Guidelines |access-date=11 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220111113900/https://www.guidelines.co.uk/news/professor-gillian-leng-to-retire-as-nice-chief-executive/456316.article |archive-date=11 January 2022 |language=en}} Dr Samantha Roberts succeeded her on 1 February 2022.{{cite web |last1=Taylor |first1=Phil |title=Samantha Roberts to replace Gillian Leng as CEO of NICE - |url=https://pharmaphorum.com/news/samantha-roberts-to-replace-gillian-leng-as-ceo-of-nice/ |website=pharmaphorum.com |access-date=11 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220111121817/https://pharmaphorum.com/news/samantha-roberts-to-replace-gillian-leng-as-ceo-of-nice/ |archive-date=11 January 2022 |date=20 December 2021}}{{cite web |title=Dr Samantha Roberts starts work as NICE CEO today. {{!}} News and features {{!}} News |url=https://www.nice.org.uk/news/article/dr-samantha-roberts-starts-work-as-nice-ceo-today |website=NICE |date=February 2022 |access-date=2 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220202101217/https://www.nice.org.uk/news/article/dr-samantha-roberts-starts-work-as-nice-ceo-today |archive-date=2 February 2022}}

Selected publications

=Articles=

{{cite journal |last1=Leng |first1=GC |last2=Fowkes |first2=FGR |title=The Epidemiology of Peripheral Arterial Disease |journal=Vascular Medicine Review |date=February 1993 |volume=vmr-4 |issue=1 |pages=5–18 |doi=10.1177/1358863x9300400102 |s2cid=77748948 |issn=0954-2582|doi-access=free }}
{{cite journal |title=Screening for abdominal aortic aneurysm |journal=The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews |date=18 April 2007 |issue=2 |pages=CD002945 |doi=10.1002/14651858.CD002945.pub2 |pmid=17443519 |url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17443519/ |issn=1469-493X|last1=Cosford |first1=Paul A. |last2=Leng |first2=Gillian C. |last3=Thomas |first3=Justyn }}

=Books=

{{cite book |last1=Leng |first1=Gillian |last2=Moore |first2=Val |last3=Abraham |first3=Sasha |title=Achieving High Quality Care: Practical Experience from NICE |date=2014 |publisher=Wiley Blackwell |isbn=978-1-118-54358-0 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=e5gtBAAAQBAJ&q=gillian+leng |language=en}}