The Royal Pharmaceutical Society has announced the appointment of university lecturer and researcher Amira Guirguis as chair of its science and research committee (SRC).

Ms Guirguis, a pharmacist who holds a PhD in novel psychoactive substances detection, is MPharm programme director at Swansea University Medical School. The RPS said she has “made significant contributions to the field of pharmacy [and] to drug policy,” adding that she won the 2014 JPAG Geoffrey Phillips award for pharmaceutical analytical science for her research on ‘legal highs’.

She also acted as principal investigator for the first Home Office-licensed pharmacist-led drug checking service.

Ms Guirguis replaces Barrie Kellam as chair of the SRC – a group that was created in 2018 following a restructure, and which according to the RPS “comprises esteemed individuals from various sectors” and seeks to provide “strategic leadership, advocacy and expert advice to guide pharmaceutical science and pharmacy research on a national and global scale”. The SRC meets three times a year.

Ms Guirguis said: “I am looking forward to working with a distinguished team dedicated to integrating science into pharmacy practice, foster pharmaceutical science research and collaborations across disciplines and contribute to providing expert advice on cutting edge science that enhances patient care.” 

RPS chief scientist professor Parastou Donyai commented: “I’m delighted that Amira will be promoted to chair of the science and research committee in the new year, having served on the committee for a number of years already. Myself and the rest of the team are looking forward to working with Amira and benefiting from her passion, expertise and proactivity.”