Professor Danny McAuley has been appointed as the new Chief Scientific Adviser to the Northern Ireland Department of Health, Health Minister Robbie Butler announced.

McAuley is Professor of Intensive Care Medicine at the Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine at Queen's University Belfast and a consultant in intensive care medicine at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast.

In his new role he will provide leadership across the healthcare sector to enable high-quality evidence to improve patient care and inform policy. He will also serve as Director of the Health and Social Care Research and Development Division, acting as an ambassador for research and aiming to make Northern Ireland a region of choice for clinical trials.

Minister Butler described the appointment as part of a long and distinguished career in health and social care, and said McAuley's scientific knowledge and expertise would be of immense value in developing policy to enhance health and wellbeing.

Professor McAuley will advise the Minister and the Department on scientific matters and support the growth of leading-edge research across Northern Ireland's health and social care sector.