Imperial College London Deputy Rector named Chief Executive of Medical Research Council

Professor Sir Leszek Borysiewicz takes up new post on 1 October - News Release

For immediate use
Friday 28 September 2007

Imperial College London today warmly congratulated Deputy Rector Professor Sir Leszek Borysiewicz on the announcement of his appointment as the next Chief Executive of the UK's Medical Research Council.

Sir Leszek has served at the College since February 2001, joining as Principal of the Faculty of Medicine from the University of Wales. In August 2004 he became Deputy Rector.

Sir Richard Sykes, Rector of Imperial College London, praised Sir Leszek's leadership at the College:

"Sir Leszek has made outstanding contributions to the College as Principal of the Faculty of Medicine and Deputy Rector. His talents and leadership as both a basic and clinical scientist have greatly helped to guide the College on its path over the last six years.

"He has been a tireless ambassador for Imperial and has combined his roles at the College with service on two successive RAE panels, and as a Wellcome Trust governor. The MRC is fortunate to have attracted such a rare talent – a doctor, an academic and a basic scientist with warmth, humour and a clear understanding of the challenges and opportunities ahead, and we wish him great success in his new role."

Reflecting on his six years at the College, Sir Leszek said:

"It has been a great privilege and opportunity to serve as Deputy Rector and to lead the Faculty of Medicine during my time at Imperial. The College is today in a dominant position in terms of scientific leadership in the UK, it is an inspiring place to work and I have had a fantastic time here.

"The co-ordination and interaction between academic colleagues at the College has been a great pleasure to witness over the last six years. It has been thrilling to watch as a scientist, knowing that we are contributing new knowledge all the time, and seeking to make a profound difference to the quality of life around the world. I have been made to feel so welcome at Imperial and will be sad to leave. I thank all my professional colleagues, fellow scientists, support staff, administrators and friends who have made the last six years so stimulating."

Sir Leszek, 56, will take up his new post at the MRC on 1 October.

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For further information and photographs contact:

Abigail Smith
Imperial College London Press Office
Tel: 020 7594 6701
Email: abigail.smith@imperial.ac.uk

About Professor Sir Leszek Borysiewicz FRCP FMedSci

Professor Sir Leszek Borysiewicz joined Imperial College London in 2001 as Principal of the Faculty of Medicine before becoming Deputy Rector in 2004.

He studied Medicine at the Welsh National School of Medicine before beginning a career in academic clinical medicine that has spanned positions at hospitals in London, Cambridge, Gambia and Wales. He received his PhD from the Royal Postgraduate Medical School, now merged with Imperial College London, and took his first Consultant's post at Hammersmith Hospital.

Sir Leszek's research interests lie in viral immunology, infectious diseases, cell mediated immunity, virus associated malignancy and vaccine development. He was knighted in 2001 for his research into developing vaccines, including one to prevent the development of cervical cancer.

As Deputy Rector of Imperial College London, he has responsibility for the overall academic and scientific direction of the College, and particularly the development of interdisciplinary research between engineering, natural sciences and medicine. This has included the establishment of programmes including the Gates Foundation-funded Schistosomiasis Control Initiative, and the construction of a new clinical imaging facility in partnership with GlaxoSmithKline plc and the UK Medical Research Council.

In addition to his role at Imperial, Sir Leszek holds a number of appointments in the fields of higher education and science. He was recently made a Governor of the Wellcome Trust, and is Chairman of HEFCE's main Clinical Medicine panel for RAE 2008.

He is also the Chairman of the UK Clinical Research Collaboration Integrated Academic Training committee and the Joint Chairman of the MRC/UK Stem Cell Foundation Scientific Advisory Board.

Before coming to Imperial Sir Leszek was Professor of Medicine and Head of the Department of Medicine at the University of Wales. He has authored reports for the World Health Organisation, Medical Research Council and the Department of Health, as well as chairing the Department of Health research advisory committee collating research on CJD, the human form of mad cow disease. He is a Founder Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences.

Website: www1.imperial.ac.uk/medicine/people/l.borysiewicz/ 

About Imperial College London

Rated as the world's ninth best university in the 2006 Times Higher Education Supplement University Rankings, Imperial College London is a science-based institution with a reputation for excellence in teaching and research that attracts 11,500 students and 6,000 staff of the highest international quality.

Innovative research at the College explores the interface between science, medicine, engineering and management and delivers practical solutions that improve quality of life and the environment - underpinned by a dynamic enterprise culture.

With 66 Fellows of the Royal Society among our current academic staff and distinguished past members of the College including 14 Nobel Laureates and two Fields Medallists, Imperial's contribution to society has been immense. Inventions and innovations include the discovery of penicillin, the development of holography and the foundations of fibre optics. This commitment to the application of our research for the benefit of all continues today with current focuses including interdisciplinary collaborations to tackle climate change and mathematical modelling to predict and control the spread of infectious diseases.

The College's 100 years of living science will be celebrated throughout 2007 with a range of events to mark the Centenary of the signing of Imperial's founding charter on 8 July 1907.

Website: www.imperial.ac.uk