In conversation with Professor Paul Townsend

It’s been six months since Professor Paul Townsend joined us on campus as the newly appointed Pro-Vice-Chancellor for the Faculty of Health, Innovation, Technology and Science (HITS). 

We caught up with him to find out about some of his key highlights in the first few months of working at the university and what he has planned next for the faculty. 

Tell us about your current role and what a typical day looks like for you? 

It’s a hugely exciting role to be Pro-Vice-Chancellor for the Faculty of Health, Innovation, Technology and Science (HITS), but it seems there’s no such thing as a 'typical' day. 

My time is split between strategic leadership, external engagement and internal collaboration. I work closely with colleagues across the faculty to shape our curriculum, strengthen our research and innovation activity, and ensure we are aligned with industry and societal needs. A big current focus is on improving how we use data to inform curriculum redesign and portfolio development. 

Externally, I spend a lot of time working with partners across the Liverpool City Region, the NHS, industry, and other universities, particularly building stronger connections across the North West. Alongside this, I remain an active researcher, collaborating globally, which keeps me grounded and connected to the realities of academic life. 

There’s a real sense of purpose here, of making a difference, which is something to be proud of.

Professor Paul Townsend

Tell us about your career prior to joining LJMU 

I took a slightly unconventional route into academia. I started A-levels at sixteen in 1988 but quickly realised they weren’t for me (much to my mum’s angst!), so I left and became a biochemistry technician at the University of Nottingham in the Queens Medical Centre, a huge teaching hospital. That decision turned out to be pivotal, I gained hands-on experience while continuing my education through day release, which ultimately, through amazing encouragement from my lab professor, Bruce Middleton, inspired me to apply to university as the first in my family to do so. 

I went on to study Molecular Cell Biology at the University of York, 1990-1993, before completing a PhD with what became Cancer Research UK at UCL, graduating in 1997. My early career spanned both academia and industry, including collaborations with pharmaceutical companies in Europe and the UK, researching cancer biology, particularly cell adhesion and cell death pathways (apoptosis). 

Following postdoctoral work at Imperial College and UCL, funded by the Wellcome Trust, and amazing research experiences in the USA, I was fortunate to become an academic, taking up a lectureship at the University of Southampton in 2004.  

There, I balanced teaching and research 50/50. I was the first science lecturer on the newly triggered accelerated medical degree, BM4, while also being awarded a BBSRC New Investigator award. This was tough but wonderful, I was able to grow as a teacher while building international collaborations to drive my research which allowed me to co-found a pharmaceutical spin-out company, called Karus Therapeutics. All off this activity was recognised and rewarded by my becoming a reader in 2007 and a professor in 2009. Taken together, this was a phenomenal adventure. 

Due to that genuine experience in industry and academia, I later joined the University of Manchester, to continue my professorship in Cancer Sciences but I expanded my academic leading, becoming Associate Dean for Business Engagement and Innovation, working across one of Europe’s largest health, medicine and life sciences faculties. From there, I moved into senior leadership roles at the University of Surrey as Executive Dean and Pro Vice-Chancellor, helping to establish a medical school and strengthen industry partnerships, and then to the University of Stirling as Deputy Principal to lead university-wide research and innovation. Each step has built a strong foundation in connecting research, education, and real-world impact. Then, last year, I was fortunate enough to be offered this amazing role as Pro-Vice-Chancellor of Health, Innovation, Technology and Science here at LJMU.  

In the six months you’ve been working here, what are you most proud of? 

It’s been an incredibly busy and exciting first six months. While some initiatives are still under wraps, I’m particularly proud of the momentum we’ve built around developing faculty-led clinics, bringing together expertise in areas such as sport, health, psychology and pharmacy to deliver real impact for our communities.  

I am also excited by the curriculum redesign and portfolio review we are undertaking, ensuring we offer students what they want to study while still ensuring we deliver the skills that make our students employable when they graduate.  

I’m also proud of the work underway to strengthen our sense of identity and belonging within the faculty, looking at how we can better co-locate teams and create spaces where colleagues feel they truly ‘live’ as part of a school or discipline. 

More broadly, what has stood out to me is the sheer scale and authenticity of LJMU’s engagement with all stakeholders, the community, and the city. There’s a real sense of purpose here, of making a difference, which is something to be proud of. 

Favourite spot on campus or Liverpool? 

On campus, I’d probably say the coffee shops on City Campus and the Student Life Building. It’s where a lot of informal conversations happen, and often where the best ideas emerge. I get to bump into people and it really makes my day. 

In Liverpool more widely, I’m very fond of The Mayflower on Pilgrim Street. It’s a great place to decompress after a busy day and reflect on what’s been achieved. The museums are also wonderful, second to none. 

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? 

Always ask: “what are we doing, why are we doing it - and is it still relevant?” 
And just as importantly: “what can we stop doing?” 

It’s simple, but incredibly powerful in helping focus effort where it really matters. It’s not easy to do in practice as everything we do has value so we must ensure we are evidence and data informed when making these decisions.  

Outside of work, what are you reading, watching or listening to right now? 

With an 18-year-old just finishing his A-levels and his 2.5-year-old brother at home, spare time is limited! But I try to paint a little, read when I can (I love Iain (M) Banks).  

For my sins I’m a lifelong fan of Derby County (up the Rams!) and I am currently really enjoying the World Cup, although the kick-off times are painful! 

What are your upcoming priorities and how can staff get involved? 

Our priorities centre on strengthening our relationships with wider stakeholders, growing our research and innovation, and ensuring that this meaningfully informs the education we provide. That means creating more opportunities for colleagues to engage in research, developing initiatives such as 'HITS Fellows’ (further information to come), and building stronger links with industry. 

We’re also focusing on ‘smart growth’ - increasing grant income not simply by doing more, but by doing things better, with stronger alignment to full economic costing, contribution and strategic priorities. 

A key ambition is to embed and scale our wellness, longevity and community-facing activity via the clinics, making them a permanent and defining feature of the faculty. 

All of this aligns closely with LJMU Strategy 2030, placing students at the heart of everything we do, enhancing employability, and ensuring our graduates are equipped with the skills needed for the future. 

There are lots of ways for staff to get involved, through contributing to curriculum redesign, engaging in interdisciplinary research, working with external partners, or shaping new initiatives. The key is collaboration; this is something we will only achieve together.