It is responsible for managing the government's investment in health research for the public good.
[1] Since January 2016, HRC's board has been chaired by Dr Lester Levy.
[2] The Council's Chief Executive since February 2020 is Professor Sunny Collings.
[3] The statutory functions of the HRC include:[4] The Council awards the Liley Medal annually for recent research which has made an outstanding contribution to the health and medical sciences.
[5] The Council also awards the Beaven Medal annually for excellence in translational health research.