Personal Statement
Dr Rachel McNeill is an experienced research manager with over two decades of experience in biomedical research and academic programme delivery. She began her career as a biomedical researcher, completing a PhD in haematology-oncology at the University of Birmingham and publishing extensively as a research fellow, on translational therapies for indolent blood cancers.

At the University of Liverpool, Rachel oversees the strategic and operational management of the global Women’s Health Thangaratinam research portfolio and leads international engagement efforts, particularly with India. She has played a central role in developing institutional partnerships, including: Saveetha University, Fernandez Foundation, Jhpiego and UNICEF.

Prior to joining Liverpool, Rachel was Research Manager for Women’s Health at the University of Birmingham, where she managed a £12M portfolio of NIHR and MRC-funded programmes. Her management included the delivery of national initiatives such as the NIHR-funded Epi-Safe programme, a parliamentary launch at the House of Lords, and the expansion of the Dame Hilda Lloyd Network—the UK’s largest regional women’s health network. She also developed and embedded The Hildas, a dedicated women’s health PPIE group.

Earlier in her career, Rachel held management roles at the University of Bristol and the COMPARE Centre (a Birmingham–Nottingham partnership), where she led strategic planning, funding development, and stakeholder engagement across interdisciplinary research programmes.