Professor Yvonne Perrie has been appointed to the new DSIT College of Experts, a network of independent specialists who will give the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) access to leading scientific and technical expertise.

The College was formally launched on 18 June 2026 at the Royal Society in London, bringing together members from universities, industry and research institutes across the UK. Strathclyde is one of 71 members selected through a competitive process that attracted nearly 1,200 applications.

Supporting government

Members volunteer up to five days a year to support government work, from short advisory conversations to workshops and peer review.

Professor Perrie is Head of the Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences. Her research is focused on the development of carrier systems for drugs and vaccines, providing practical solutions for current healthcare problems.

Professor Perrie, who was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in His Majesty the King’s New Year Honours List 2024 for services to pharmaceutical innovation and regulation, said: “I am delighted to be appointed and looking forward to providing my pharmaceutical knowledge to support the new College.”

Independent specialists

Professor Chris Johnson, DSIT Chief Scientific Adviser and Head of the College of Experts, said: “The launch of the College of Experts at the Royal Society brought together an extraordinary group of independent specialists from across the UK, spanning AI, quantum, life sciences, cyber security, and far beyond.

“The experts volunteer their time to support us, reflecting a real commitment from the UK’s research and innovation community to contribute to government policymaking.”