DR Anne Blackwood has been appointed chief Executive of Health Enterprise East (HEE), the region s NHS innovation hub based at Papworth Hospital. She joined HEE as innovation manager when the organisation was first established in 2005, before being promot

DR Anne Blackwood has been appointed chief Executive of Health Enterprise East (HEE), the region's NHS innovation hub based at Papworth Hospital.

She joined HEE as innovation manager when the organisation was first established in 2005, before being promoted to head of innovation and, in February 2009, chief operating officer.

Her previous roles included working at Cambridge Enterprise, focusing on the commercialisation of technologies from the biological and chemical sciences and, before that, carrying out research at the University of Westminster and South Bank University, London.

Dr Blackwood holds a degree in chemistry and a PhD in biotechnology from Strathclyde University.

She takes over the role from Dr Peter Blenkinsop, who has been promoted to deputy chairman.

Professor Alan Barrell, HEE chairman, said: "I would like to pay tribute to both her and Dr Blenkinsop in building such a formidable team of highly skilled and committed people, especially equipped to support the NHS in the East of England."

Since it was established in 2004, HEE, which is funded by the Department of Health, the Department of Business Innovation and Skills (BIS) and East of England Development Agency, has commercialised more than 30 innovations on behalf of NHS trusts in the East of England, potentially delivering significant savings.