Mark Henderson appointed Head of Communications at the Wellcome Trust

Mark is one of the UK's leading science journalists and commentators. He has worked at 'The Times' since 1996; he became its Science Correspondent in 2000 and was promoted to Science Editor in 2006. He was instrumental in founding 'Eureka', the newspaper’s monthly science magazine.

He has won several awards for his journalism: three prizes from the Medical Journalists' Association, the Royal Statistical Society's prize for statistical excellence in journalism, and the European Best Cancer Reporter prize from the European School of Oncology.

His first book, '50 Genetics Ideas You Really Need to Know', was published by Quercus in 2009. His second book, 'The Geek Manifesto', which explores the relationship between science and politics, will be published by Bantam Press in May 2012.

Sir Mark Walport, Director of the Wellcome Trust, said: "Mark is an exceptionally talented science communicator and a passionate advocate of science. He appreciates not just the excitement and wonder of scientific research, but equally importantly its implications for our society and its broader cultural context.

"At the Wellcome Trust, we are firmly committed to reaching out to our audiences. The communications landscape is continuously evolving, offering new opportunities for us to improve this dialogue. There is no one better qualified to lead our communication work than Mark Henderson and we look forward to welcoming him to our team."

Mark Henderson added: "Over 11 years covering science for 'The Times', I have greatly admired the Wellcome Trust's visionary contribution to biomedical research of the highest international quality, and its commitment to exploring the cultural context in which that science takes place. I am thus hugely excited about the opportunity to join the Trust and develop its communications strategy so it can make the most of the possibilities of the digital age."

Mark will take up his post in early January and will oversee and lead the Communications Department, whose activities include media relations, marketing, publishing, design, web and social media.