Sir Pete Downes | |
---|---|
Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Dundee | |
In office 2009–2018 | |
Chancellor | The Lord Patel of Dunkeld Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell |
Rector | Craig Murray Brian Cox Mark Beaumont |
Preceded by | Sir Alan Langlands |
Succeeded by | Andrew Atherton |
Personal details | |
Born | Manchester,England | 15 October 1953
Nationality | British |
Alma mater | University of Birmingham |
Profession | Biochemist |
Institutions | University of Birmingham University of Cambridge University of Dundee |
Sir Charles Peter 'Pete' Downes OBE FMedSci FRSE (born 15 October 1953) is a British biochemist and chairman of Dynamic Earth in Edinburgh. Downes served as Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Dundee from 2009 until 2018. He is the former Head of the College of Life Sciences and co-founder of the Division of Signal Transduction Therapy (DSTT) alongside Sir Phillip Cohen. [1] Having contributed to research in the pharmaceutical industry for eleven years prior to joining Dundee,he is one of the top 15 most cited bio-scientists in the UK. [2]
As a pioneering biochemist,Downes was instrumental in establishing the biological importance of the inositol glycerophospholipids and their metabolites. Among his other discoveries are the identification of the mechanism of action for the drug lithium,which has since been used in the treatment of manic depression,and the breakthrough in finding the biochemical pathway that is the most common source of mutations leading to human cancers. [3] As a result of this work,many new avenues have opened up into the discovery of new drugs and to deeper levels of understanding regarding many common diseases. [4]
In his capacity as Principal he has focused on fostering research links between academia and industry particularly in his own field of life sciences;his tenure has however seen financial challenges following Government cutbacks in funding. [5] As former Convenor of Universities Scotland,Downes has spoken out against the UK's decision to exit the European Union citing the potential adverse effect on research funding and freedom of movement for staff and students. [6] Downes was knighted in the Queen's 2015 Birthday Honours,"For services to Higher Education and Life Sciences." [7]
In February 2018 it was announced by the University of Dundee that Professor Downes would retire as Principal at the end of the year. In explaining his decision he stated that as he would turn 65 later in the year it seemed to be "a natural time to consider the next stage of my life." [8] It was announced on 2 July 2018 that Sir Pete would be succeeded as Principal and Vice-Chancellor by Professor Andrew Atherton on 1 January 2019. [9] Following the end of his term at Dundee,Downes was appointed chairman of Dynamic Earth in March 2019,the geology-based visitor attraction in Holyrood,Edinburgh. [10]
The University of Dundee is a public research university in Dundee,a city in the east central Lowlands of Scotland. It was founded as a university college in 1881 with a donation from the prominent Baxter family of textile manufacturers. The institution was,for most of its early existence,a constituent college of the University of St Andrews alongside United College and St Mary's College located in the town of St Andrews itself. Following significant expansion,the University of Dundee gained independent university status by royal charter in 1967 while retaining elements of its ancient heritage and governance structure.
Sir Ian Wilmut,OBE FRS FMedSci FRSE is an English embryologist and Chair of the Scottish Centre for Regenerative Medicine at the University of Edinburgh. He is best known as the leader of the research group that in 1996 first cloned a mammal from an adult somatic cell,a Finnish Dorset lamb named Dolly. He was appointed OBE in 1999 for services to embryo development and knighted in the 2008 New Year Honours.
Sir John Peebles Arbuthnott,PPRSE,FRCPSG,FMedSci,FRCPath is a Scottish microbiologist,and was Principal of the University of Strathclyde. He succeeded Lord Wilson of Tillyorn as President of The Royal Society of Edinburgh in October 2011 and was succeeded by Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell in October 2014.
Narendra Babubhai Patel,Baron Patel,is a Tanzanian-British obstetrician and cross bench peer,and a former Chancellor of the University of Dundee.
Stuart Kinnaird Monro OBE,FRSGS,FRSE is a Scottish geologist and science communicator.
Susan Margaret Black,Baroness Black of Strome,is a Scottish forensic anthropologist,anatomist and academic. She is the Pro Vice-Chancellor for Engagement at Lancaster University and is the current President of the Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland. From 2003 to 2018 she was Professor of Anatomy and Forensic Anthropology at the University of Dundee. She is President elect of St John's College,Oxford. She is Patron of the following charities:Archaeology Scotland and E2M.
Christopher Allan Whatley,OBE,FRHistS,FRSE,is a well-known and widely published Scottish historian. He has been Professor of Scottish History at the University of Dundee since 1997. He is a prominent opponent of Scottish independence and chaired the inaugural meeting of the local Better Together campaign in Dundee during the 2014 Scottish independence referendum.
Sir Philip Cohen FRS FRSE FMedSci is a British researcher,academic and Royal Medal winner based at the Medical Research Council Protein Phosphorylation and Ubiquitylation Unit,School of Life Sciences at the University of Dundee. During the 1990s he was the world's third most cited professor and has been described by Professor Garry Taylor of the University of St Andrews as "one of the world’s top scientists". and by Professor Sir Peter Downes as "arguably the UK's leading biochemist and an iconic figure in UK science". As of 2008 he has written over 470 peer-reviewed papers and given over 250 invited lectures in 33 countries,and has been repeatedly linked to a move of biotechnology companies to Dundee and the economic regeneration that came with it,to the point where 15% of the local economy is derived from biotech companies and their employees. His work has also seen Dundee attracting some of the world's best scientists,with over 1% of the world's most cited scientists residing in Dundee and fundraising of more than £35 million over the last 10 years to help attract them.
Sir Gordon William Duff,is a British medical scientist and academic. He was Principal of St Hilda's College,Oxford from 2014 to 2021. He was Lord Florey Professor of Molecular Medicine at the University of Sheffield from 1991 to 2014.
Neva Haites OBE FRSE FMedSci is a scientist and physician who investigates molecular genetics and diseases in humans and specialises in cancer genetics;she has more than 90 publications in genetics concerning inherited predisposition to cancer,retinitis pigmentosa,hereditary motor neuropathy and sensory neuropathy.
Sir Ian David Diamond is a British statistician,academic,and administrator,who served as Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Aberdeen until 2018. He became the UK's National Statistician in October 2019.
Dario Alessi FRSE FRS is a biochemist,Director of the Medical Research Council Protein Phosphorylation and Ubiquitylation Unit and Professor of Signal Transduction,at the School of Life Sciences,University of Dundee.
(David) Grahame Hardie FRS,FRSE,FMedSci is a Scottish biochemist,and Professor of Cellular Signalling,at the School of Life Sciences,University of Dundee.
James Drever FRSE (1910–1991) was a Scottish academic who served as the first Principal of the University of Dundee. He has been described as 'one of the most pivotal figures in the University's history'.
Doreen CantrellCBE,FRS,FRSE,FMedSci, is a scientist and Professor of Cellular Immunology at the School of Life Sciences,University of Dundee. She researches the development and activation T lymphocytes,which are key to the understanding the immune response.
Moira Katherine Brigid Whyte FERS is a Scottish physician and medical researcher who is the Sir John Crofton Professor of Respiratory Medicine at the University of Edinburgh. She is the Director the Medical Research Council Centre for Inflammation Research and is Vice-Principal and Head of the College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine at the University of Edinburgh.
Sir Michael Anthony John Ferguson CBE,FRS,FRSE is a British biochemist and Regius Professor of Life Sciences at the University of Dundee. His research team are based at the School of Life Sciences,University of Dundee.
The School of Life Sciences at the University of Dundee conducts research into the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying human health and disease.
The Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) is a British Government body that advises central government in emergencies. It is usually chaired by the United Kingdom's Chief Scientific Adviser,currently Sir Patrick Vallance. Specialists from academia and industry,along with experts from within government make up the participation,which will vary depending on the emergency. SAGE gained public prominence for its role in the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom.
Julian Blow is a molecular biologist,Professor of Chromosome Maintenance,and Interim Vice-Principal at the School of Life Sciences,University of Dundee,Scotland.