The University has recently concluded a consultation process on the future leadership of the College of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences (MVLS) in accordance with University policy. We are now able to update you on the way forward.Professor Dame Anna Dominiczak

Anna has decided that after 10 years, the time is right to search for a new leader, who would be able to continue the College’s successful trajectory of achievements in teaching, research, innovation and external engagement. We are immensely grateful to Anna for the outstanding achievements of MVLS under her inspirational leadership and for Anna’s continuous ability to put the College first as we enter a period of transition. We have agreed that the University will now initiate an external executive search for the next Vice-Principal and Head of College of MVLS.

Any process of succession at the head of a major academic unit like MVLS requires time to conduct an extensive global search to ensure we identify the best potential successor. It is vitally important for the College and the University to ensure a smooth transition in the leadership of the College. We are therefore delighted that Anna has agreed to stay on as Vice-Principal and Head of MVLS for up to 18 months to ensure the best possible transition.

The first decade of the College of MVLS has been a period of outstanding success. Anna’s tenure as VP/Head of College has resulted in major growth in research income, reaching £133million in 2019, as well as an exceptional focus on biomedical innovation, links with industry, development of the Glasgow Health Sciences Partnership and the West of Scotland Health Sciences Network with our NHS and University partners. This has been supported by an exceptional fundraising success jointly with the Development and Alumni Office, with in excess of £80 million raised to develop academic infrastructure at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital and at Garscube.

The successful concept of a triple helix collaboration between academia, NHS and industry for Precision Medicine developed by Anna jointly with many of MVLS senior leaders, has now become a national and international marker of excellence for biomedicine at Glasgow.

Anna is Regius Professor of Medicine, the first woman to ever hold this position. She is also a nonexecutive member of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Health Board. Her research interests include hypertension, cardiovascular genomics and precision medicine. She has led major research programmes, has over 400 publications in peer-reviewed journals, and is recognised as being among the world’s foremost cardiovascular scientists and clinical academics.

In 2019, Anna was appointed as the Medical Research Council Heath Innovation Champion, in addition to being a member of MRC Council and MRC Strategy Board. This is a new senior role within the MRC that will enable the organisation to work more effectively with commercial partners. She has also served extensively on national and international research committees and advisory boards, including those of the Council of the Academy of Medical Sciences, the Vice Presidency, Life Sciences of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, the Scottish Science Advisory Council and the Wellcome Trust. She has been a Trustee of the British Heart Foundation since 2015. She is a member of the REF 2021 Panel A and the Interdisciplinary Research Advisory Panel.

The University has therefore invited Anna to continue beyond the period of transition in her tenured post of the Regius Chair of Medicine and, in addition to this role, she will become a Pro-Vice Principal and a special senior advisor to the Principal on health innovation.

Professor Sir Anton Muscatelli    Professor Dame Anna Dominiczak

 

First published: 3 March 2020

<< 3 March, 2020