The new Regius Professorship, in one of the university’s specialist subjects, was created to mark Her Majesty’s 90th birthday and was announced at an event in Manchester as part of the celebrations of the Queen’s official birthday.
The University of Glasgow has been honoured with one of 12 new Regius Professorships announced to celebrate Her Majesty’s birthday and is the only university in Scotland on the list of prestigious institutions which also include the Universities of Manchester and Cardiff.
A Royal Warrant will be issued formally conferring the new Regius Professorship and the announcement of who will be given the honour will be made in due course.
The new position is one of more than a dozen Regius Professorships at Glasgow, who holds the highest number of Regius Professors in Great Britain. Regius Professorships are positions created by the monarch at the UK’s ancient universities and began in 1713.
Professor Anton Muscatelli, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Glasgow said: “I am delighted to hear the announcement that the University of Glasgow is to be awarded a new Regius Professorship of Precision Medicine, and I would like to thank Her Majesty for creating this esteemed new post.
“Such a prestigious Chair underlines the strategic importance of Precision Medicine to the University and recognises the terrific potential this innovative branch of medical science has to bring real health benefits to our communities.
“The university looks forward to appointing a deserving candidate to take up this exciting role.”
Anna Dominiczak, Vice-Principal and Head of the University of Glasgow’s College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, said: “The University of Glasgow is thrilled to be awarded a Regius Professorship in Precision Medicine and is delighted Her Majesty chose precision medicine as a new specialist subject to have such a position.
“Precision Medicine is of great importance to us at the University of Glasgow, as we continue to break ground in this exciting field of research and play a leading role in the growth of precision medicine in Scotland and beyond.
“We know whoever takes up the position will be most deserving of this extremely prestigious position.”
The University of Glasgow is at the forefront of Precision Medicine, which is widely recognized as being the future of medicine, in that it will transform healthcare both in the UK and globally. Recent advances are helping facilitate Precision Medicine’s aims to deliver the right medicine for the right patient at the right time, selecting treatments with more predictable, safer, and cost-effective outcomes.
In partnership with NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde, the University of Glasgow is leading the world in driving forward this modern medicine and is at the heart of Scotland’s internationally recognised precision medicine ecosystem. The creation of a Regius Professorship in Precision Medicine formally recognises the transformative development, advancement and delivery of precision medicine by the university and the role will provide academic leadership for our innovative work.
The university’s internationally recognised pre-eminence in precision medicine, long established expertise in clinical trials and the new developments at the heart of The Queen Elizabeth University Hospital have created the ideal environment for translating research into real patient benefit. This Regius Chair will celebrate and provide overarching leadership to this exciting programme.
The title of Regius Professorship is a rare and prestigious award bestowed by the Sovereign to recognise exceptionally high quality research at an institution. Only 14 have been granted since the reign of Queen Victoria, including 12 to mark Her Majesty’s Diamond Jubilee.
As in 2012, recipients of new Regius Professorships have been selected by open competition, judged by an independent expert panel of business and academic experts. A Regius Professorship is a well-deserved reflection of the exceptionally high quality of teaching and research at an institution. Each institution will assign the title to an existing Professor at the chosen department or will appoint a new professor to take the chair and hold the title.
Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne said: “I am passionate about promoting science and economic growth right across the country. That’s why I promised to push for prestigious new Regius Professorships not just in London and Oxbridge, but in other great centres of learning, including the Northern Powerhouse, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. I’m delighted that promise is being honoured today.”
Scotland Office Minister Andrew Dunlop said: “I am delighted that Glasgow University has been granted a Regius Professorship for Precision Medicine. It is a huge honour, and recognises Glasgow’s outstanding contribution to teaching, research and innovation in this area. I am very pleased that Her Majesty the Queen has recognised the University’s contribution to this new and exciting area of science as part of her 90th birthday celebrations.”
The creation of Regius Professorships falls under the Royal Prerogative, and each appointment is approved by the Monarch on ministerial advice. For the Diamond Jubilee 12 Regius Professorship were created but prior to that only two others have been awarded in the last century, to mark the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Darwin in 2009. Before then, the most recent Regius Professorship was created by Queen Victoria.
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