Dr Carl Mayers OBE

As Senior Adviser in Biosecurity Policy, Carl supports our Biosecurity Unit and external stakeholders to deliver impactful policy engagement and scientific advice to counter extreme biological risks.

Carl is a virologist and molecular biologist by background, completing his Doctor of Philosophy at the University of Cambridge in 1999. He joined the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory at Porton Down the same year. 

Carl spent the first ten years of his career developing novel medical countermeasures and forensic biodetection capabilities, working in biosecurity containment labs in the UK and USA. He is an author on 14 patents, and developed novel antitoxin formulations, which are used today to treat infant botulism. He deployed into conflict zones with the British Army, and in 2012 was honoured with an OBE for services to the military.

In 2020 Carl was asked to lead the epidemiology team on the COVID SAGE secretariat, working closely with the UK Government Chief Scientific Advisor and Chief Medical Officer. He moved to a deputy director role at the Joint Biosecurity Centre in 2021 to lead their International Assessment Division, and established the UK Health Security Agency National Security Policy division in 2022. 

In 2023 Carl left the Civil Service after a 24 year career, and became a Director at the Health Foundation.

Carl is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology, and a Fellow and Trustee of the Royal Society for Public Health.