Sir John is a Professor of Medical Science has been awarded a knighthood for services to medical research, including supporting young scientific talent and his work in the area of inflammation research.
He is an Honorary Consultant Physician at North Bristol NHS Trust (NBT) and served for six years as a Non-Executive Director at NBT.
Sir John said: “I am surprised and humbled by this extraordinary honour. I have had the good fortune to work in great UK universities, our NHS and had the opportunity to contribute to both the MRC and charitable sectors. It has been hugely rewarding and exciting, but in all of these organisations, it has been my privilege to work with the most extraordinary teams and this award also recognises and reflects their outstanding work. Science is a team sport.”
Sir John has recently returned to the university after being seconded to the UKRI Medical Research Council (MRC) as its interim Executive Chair. Part of UKRI, the MRC is the major government funding body for research at the forefront of science to prevent illness, develop therapies and improve human health.
As well as being Professor of Medical Science at Bristol, Sir John is Chair of the Beatson Institute (part of Cancer Research UK), Chair of the Lister Institute and was previously President of the Medical Research Foundation, a Trustee of the British Heart Foundation and a board member of the Francis Crick Institute. He chaired main Panel A for REF 2021.
A clinical scientist, Sir John was at the forefront of inflammation research for over twenty years, advancing understanding of solid organ fibrosis by identifying that it is, at least in part, reversible and that macrophages are essential to both development and resolution of tissue scarring. For many years he has focussed on developing the next generation of scientists.
As a Pro-Vice Chancellor at the University of Bristol he led the Faculties of Health and Life Sciences and showcased his vision in the formation of the National Institute for Health and Care Research Bristol Biomedical Research Centre (NIHR Bristol BRC).
Sir John joined the University of Bristol in 2016 from the University of Edinburgh where he was the Regius Professor of Medical Science. Whilst at the University of Edinburgh he led the creation of novel and innovative career programmes for clinical academic and scientific staff, including the Edinburgh Clinical Academic Track (ECAT).
More recently he has developed and led a similar scheme for medical, dental, veterinary, nursing and allied health professional staff across GW4, a collaboration between the universities of Bristol, Bath, Cardiff and Exeter, called GW4 Clinical Academic Training Programme for Health Professionals.