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World authority to head Cardiff bioscience school
One of the most distinguished figures in international biomedical research, Professor Ole Petersen CBE FRS has been appointed the new Director of the School of Biosciences at Cardiff university in south Wales.
Professor Petersen, who takes up his post on February 1, said: “I was keen to come to Cardiff because I knew the School of Biosciences to be very good scientifically over a wide range of areas, including neuroscience, genetics, biodiversity and ecology. This brings benefits in many areas, including healthcare breakthroughs, biodiversity conservation and the training of the next generations of bioscientists. The challenge for me will be to manage and build on this excellence over such a wide area.”
Professor Petersen made breakthroughs in understanding how calcium ions can trigger a range of events in cells in the body, particularly the pancreas. This has implications for understanding pancreatitis, where over-active enzymes can digest the pancreas itself, and pancreatic cancer, one of the most lethal forms of all cancers. He made headlines when his team at the University of Liverpool were the first to explain how binge drinking can cause pancreatitis.
Research, naturally, is one of his priorities on coming to Cardiff. He said: “There are a substantial number of outstanding and world-leading groups in many areas. I want to bring as many other people as possible up to that standard.”
Plans include the creation of a Scientific Advisory Board for the School, consisting of eminent external figures who can advise on research policy and also promote the School worldwide. Tied in with that will be a drive to raise awareness of excellence at the School. Professor Petersen said: “There are very many exciting things within the School that haven’t always been prominently signposted. I want to create a situation where people know about all the good things that are happening at the School of Biosciences.”
Chair of the European Research Council’s starting grant panel for physiology, pathophysiology and endocrinology, he is keen to develop awareness of European funding at the School. Professor Petersen said: “I think it’s a very good thing for there to be a European-wide body where competitive grants are made purely on the basis of research excellence. We certainly have people at the School, including young researchers looking for starting grants, who are more than capable of winning awards.”
Find out more about Cardiff School of Biosciences at http://www.cardiff.ac.uk/biosi/