Lord Ajay Kakkar

Biography

The Rt. Hon. Professor the Lord Ajay Kakkar PC is Emeritus Professor of Surgery at University College London, Chairman of King Health Partners Academic Health Science Centre and Director of the Thrombosis Research Institute London.

Lord Kakkar completed his medical degree from King’s College London and received his PhD from Imperial College London. His research interests include the prevention and treatment of venous and arterial thromboembolic disease and cancer associated thrombosis.

Lord Kakkar was created a Life Peer in 2010 and sits on the cross benches of the House of Lords. He served as Chairman of the House of Lords Appointments Commission from 2013–2018 and of the Judicial Appointments Commission from 2016 to 2022 and was appointed a member of Her Majesty’s Most Honourable Privy Council in 2014.

He served as Chairman of UCLPartners Academic Health Science Partnership between 2014 – 2021.

In 2020 he became Chairman of The King’s Fund, and Chairman of UK Biobank. He was appointed Chairman of the Office for Strategic Coordination of Health Research in 2021 and in 2022 was appointed as Chairman of the Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851.

Previous roles in government

  • Commissioner - Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities