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The University of Leicester today (May 1) announces that a world-class medical scientist, whose research has been recognised ‘for seminal advances in the understanding of human diseases’, has been appointed as the new Dean of Medicine, succeeding Professor Ian Lauder who is retiring after 24 years’ service in the University, including nine years as Dean of Medicine.

Professor David Wynford-Thomas, currently Dean of Medicine at Cardiff University’s School of Medicine, will head the College of Medicine, Biological and Psychological Sciences at the University of Leicester from 1 October 2008. Professor Wynford-Thomas will also become a Pro-Vice Chancellor in line with the recent restructuring of the University, which sees the Senior Management Team increased following the establishment of four Heads of College in addition to the current three Pro-Vice-Chancellors.

This appointment was welcomed by the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Leicester, Professor Robert Burgess who commented: “Leicester is proud to appoint such an eminent medical scientist to this pivotal position within the University. Like many other Departments, our Schools of Medicine, Biological Sciences and Psychology are world-class and bringing them under the umbrella of a new College system will allow them to further enhance their reputations.

"The work of the University has a hugely beneficial effect on the region through its many activities. However, the School of Medicine in particular impacts upon the services provided by the NHS by enabling it to attract top calibre staff through our training of doctors and medical staff and through our world-class research programme. Professor Wynford-Thomas has demonstrated that he has the vision and ambition to exploit the exciting opportunities available at Leicester, in particular those afforded by inter-disciplinary research. We therefore look forward to him working with colleagues across many departments in order to assist Leicester to reach new heights of success.”

Professor Wynford-Thomas said: “While I am obviously sad to be leaving Cardiff after many years of working for the School of Medicine, I am greatly looking forward to the new opportunities and challenges which Leicester offers.

“A particularly exciting feature of the post is the opportunity it provides, not only to lead a Medical School, but also the new College of Medicine, Biological and Psychological Sciences.

“It is still relatively rare in the UK for Medicine and Biosciences to be “under one roof” in this way and this new College offers great potential for building closer links between these fields. Together with the strong relationship between the University and the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, this will give us a tremendous opportunity to forge new collaborations between basic researchers, clinicians and other health science researchers, to take forward the development of research for patient benefit.

“My strategy therefore will be two-fold: firstly to further strengthen existing areas of excellence and secondly to use these as the platform for building new multidisciplinary initiatives, focussing on carefully selected questions.

“I am confident that Leicester has the talent and the will to deliver on this agenda, and to achieve the vision of becoming one of the foremost provincial UK universities for research and teaching in the biomedical and health sciences.”

Professor Wynford-Thomas is a renowned cancer specialist who has built up a large research team studying the molecular basis of cancer and its clinical applications, with long-term funding from Cancer Research UK and the Research Councils. He was instrumental in forging closer collaborative links between cancer research groups working in different departments and schools across Cardiff, culminating in the establishment of a “virtual institute” for cancer research across Wales.

External recognition of his research achievements include the award in 2005 of the first “Goudie Medal” by the Pathological Society of Great Britain “for seminal advances in the understanding of human disease” and election to Fellowship of the Academy of Medical Sciences in 2003.

Last year, the Institute of Medical Genetics, part of the School of Medicine at Cardiff, received the Queen’s Anniversary Prize, which recognises world class levels of excellence in UK Higher Education, from Her Majesty the Queen.

Reacting positively to news of the appointment, Professor Lauder said that the new Dean would take over Departments and Schools with many strengths and significant achievements:

"I am delighted that someone with David Wynford-Thomas’s recognised academic distinction, leadership ability and personal characteristics has been chosen to take the Medical School and the new College into this exciting phase of the University’s development. Our pioneering contributions in the field of medical education and our achievements across the range of biological, medical and psychological research will provide an excellent platform for significant new advances.”

FURTHER INFORMATION:

Brief biography

Professor Wynford-Thomas is currently Dean of Medicine at Cardiff University. After qualifying, with Honours, in Medicine in 1978, followed by a PhD in experimental pathology in 1982, he won an NIH post-doctoral fellowship to work at the University of Colorado on the then newly-emerging molecular biology of cancer. This has remained his research interest ever since, and following his return to Cardiff he built up a large research team studying the molecular basis of cancer and its clinical applications, with long-term funding from Cancer Research UK and Research Councils. More recently he has been instrumental in forging closer collaborative links between cancer research groups working in different Departments and Schools across Cardiff, culminating in the establishment of a “virtual institute” for cancer research across Wales. External recognition of his research achievements include the award in 2005 of the first “Goudie Medal” by the Pathological Society of Great Britain “for seminal advances in the understanding of human disease” and election to Fellowship of the Academy of Medical Sciences in 2003. Aside from research, he has played major roles in the wider management of the University, becoming Head of the Department of Pathology in 1992, Chair of the Division of Clinical Laboratory Sciences in 2000 and most recently Head of the School of Medicine in 2005.

The School of Medicine at the University of Leicester

The School was formed in 1973 following the recommendations of the Royal Commission on Medical Education and admitted its first students in 1975. A close relationship with the NHS (initially represented primarily by the Leicestershire Health Authority) has been essential to the development of the School. In addition to a five-year MB ChB programme, it now offers a four-year programme designed for graduates with some professional experience. The annual intake to both programmes is around 250. A significant proportion of students take an intercalated BSc degree. The School also offers a range of postgraduate qualifications at master’s and doctoral levels, including a popular MD programme.

In 2000, the School assisted the University of Warwick in the establishment of a Medical School. After Leicester had successfully guided the Warwick School to independent GMC recognition, the partnership was dissolved in 2007.

The School has an excellent reputation for innovation and quality in teaching and for research of an international standard in many areas. Medicine scored 23 out of 24 in the QAA subject review in May 1999. It has recently had a

successful GMC accreditation visit, and was joint 3rd in the 2007 National Student Satisfaction Survey. In the 2001 Research Assessment Exercise the vast majority of the staff were in Units of Assessment rated 4 or 5 (Infection and Immunology and Cardiovascular Medicine rated 5). The value of research grants and contracts awarded to the School in 2006/07 was £12.4 million.

As part of its commitment to maintaining and improving on these high standards, the School carried out an extensive and successful restructuring in 2003. The five substantial academic departments are now defined primarily by their research interests and span the traditional clinical subject areas. These departments bring considerable intellectual resources to bear on a range of vital medical challenges and reflect the priorities of the National Health Service. They provide a stimulating environment for research and study at all levels, and offer a wide range of opportunities for professional training and development.

Previous Deans of Medicine:

• Professor William Cramond OBE, subsequently Principal and Vice-Chancellor of Stirling University
• Professor the Lord Kilpatrick, later President of the General Medical Council
• Professor Frank Harris CBE FMedSci
• The present Dean, Professor Ian Lauder FMedSci (currently Treasurer of the Academy of Medical Sciences).