Malaysian-born Academic Appointed UK MHRA's First Chief Medical, Scientific Officer

By Ahmad Idzwan Arzmi

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 6 (Bernama) – A Malaysian-born academic has made history following his appointment as the United Kingdom’s first Chief Medical and Scientific Officer for the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).

Born in Kuala Lumpur and raised in the Bukit Rajah estate in Meru, Klang, in the state of Selangor, Professor Jacob George has built an international career in cardiovascular medicine that has culminated in his appointment to one of the UK’s most influential public health roles.

“I am very humbled by this appointment. It also demonstrates the strength of the Malaysian expatriate community in the United Kingdom and abroad,” he told Bernama.

The 50-year-old, who is qualified in Clinical Pharmacology and General Internal Medicine and is an accredited European Hypertension Specialist, said he was delighted to be joining the MHRA at an important time for the agency and the UK life sciences sector.

“The MHRA has a direct influence on the safety and effectiveness of the medicines, vaccines, and health technologies used every day by millions of people across the UK.

“I’m looking forward to working with colleagues to make a major contribution to high-quality patient care and life sciences innovation,” he said.

In a statement, MHRA said George will join the agency on Jan 5, 2026, and will work from the MHRA’s London office and its science campus in Hertfordshire, while retaining his home base in Scotland, supporting the MHRA’s strong commitment to being a visible regulator in all four nations.

On his childhood in Malaysia, George said his father worked at the Sime Darby plantations at the Bukit Rajah estate, while his mother was a physiotherapist at University Hospital in Petaling Jaya.

“I had the most idyllic childhood living in the estate and a wonderful upbringing by my parents and family,” he said.

Growing up in Klang, he attended Sekolah Rendah Kebangsaan  (2) Jalan Batu Tiga, Eng Ann, before continuing his secondary education at the Anglo-Chinese School (ACS) Klang.

“I am a very proud Selangorian!

“My teachers in school were excellent and even as I look back over the many years, I owe them a huge debt of gratitude. I can think of Mr Subramaniam who taught us geography in primary school as a stand out outstanding teacher. In fact, all my teachers were amazing,” he said when asked about his memories of living in Malaysia.

George moved to London in 1995. 

In 2017, he was appointed by the Minister of Health, Malaysia as an International Expert Advisory Member of the Malaysian Scientific Review Panel for Phase I Clinical Trials, and has continued in this role.

George currently serves as Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine and Therapeutics at the University of Dundee Medical School, and is a consultant physician and clinical lead for the Cardiovascular Risk service in the UK’s  National Health Service Tayside.

He has extensive UK and international experience and is a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians Edinburgh, European Society of Cardiology, and the British Hypertension Society, as well as a visiting Professor at the Dnipro State Medical University, Ukraine. He is an alumnus of the Universities of Sheffield and Dundee.

George is a member of the Delivery Group and Management Board for the Innovative Licensing and Access Pathway (ILAP), the current Co-Chair on the National Institutes of Health Research (NIHR) Capital Investment Funding Committee, and has been Senior Health Technology Advisor to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).  

-- BERNAMA