Nancy Rothwell

Nancy Rothwell
Name	Nancy Rothwell
Birth date	10 October 1955
Birth place	London, England
Nationality	British
Fields	Physiology, Neuroscience
Workplaces	University of Manchester
Alma mater	University of London (BSc), King's College London (PhD)
Known for	Neuroimmunology, inflammation in brain injury, academic leadership
Awards	FRS (2004), DBE (2005), FMedSci

Nancy Rothwell. She is a distinguished British physiologist and neuroscientist renowned for her pioneering research into the role of the immune system in brain injury and neurodegenerative disease. Appointed as the first female Vice-Chancellor of the University of Manchester in 2010, she has also played a major role in national science policy, serving as President of the Royal Society of Biology and a member of the Council for Science and Technology. Her career exemplifies significant contributions to both scientific discovery and the leadership of a major Russell Group institution.

Early life and education

Born in London, she developed an early interest in biological sciences. She pursued her undergraduate studies in physiology at the University of London, graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree. She then completed her doctoral research at King's College London, earning a PhD in 1981 for work investigating the hypothalamus and thermoregulation. Her postdoctoral training included a period at the Medical College of St Bartholomew's Hospital, further solidifying her expertise in neural control systems.

Academic career

Following her postdoctoral work, she joined the faculty of the University of Manchester (then Victoria University of Manchester) in 1987 as a lecturer in the Department of Physiology. She rose rapidly through the academic ranks, being promoted to Professor of Physiology in 1994. She held several key leadership positions within the university prior to her appointment as Vice-Chancellor, including Vice-President for Research and Deputy Vice-Chancellor. Her academic career has been entirely based at this institution, where she also established a world-leading laboratory.

Research and contributions

Her research has fundamentally advanced the field of neuroimmunology, particularly the understanding of how inflammation contributes to damage following stroke and brain trauma. Her laboratory was among the first to demonstrate that interleukin-1 is a key mediator of ischaemic brain injury, opening new avenues for therapeutic intervention. This work has had broad implications for conditions such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. Her contributions are documented in numerous publications in high-impact journals including The Lancet and Nature Reviews Neuroscience.

Leadership and administration

As Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Manchester, she has overseen a period of significant growth and development for the institution, which was formed from the merger of the Victoria University of Manchester and the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology. She has championed interdisciplinary research, notably through initiatives like Manchester Academic Health Science Centre. Nationally, she has served as President of the Royal Society of Biology and sat on the board of UK Research and Innovation. She is also a member of the Prime Minister's Council for Science and Technology.

Awards and honours

Her scientific and leadership achievements have been recognized with numerous prestigious awards. She was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 2004 and appointed a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 2005 New Year Honours. She is also a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences and holds honorary doctorates from several universities, including the University of Leeds and Queen's University Belfast. In 2022, she was awarded the Royal Society's Royal Medal for her exceptional contributions to biological science.

Personal life

She is married to Professor R. John A. Leigh, a noted academic in the field of optometry and vision science. She is known to be a passionate advocate for women in STEM fields and has spoken widely on issues of equality and diversity within higher education and research. Outside of her professional life, she is reported to be an avid supporter of the arts in Manchester.

Category:1955 births Category:Living people Category:British physiologists Category:British neuroscientists Category:Academics of the University of Manchester Category:Fellows of the Royal Society Category:Dames Commander of the Order of the British Empire Category:People from London