Professor Sir Mark Walport

Professor Sir Mark Walport
Name	Professor Sir Mark Walport
Birth date	20 March 1953
Nationality	British
Fields	Immunology, Medicine, Science policy
Workplaces	Imperial College London, Wellcome Trust, UK Government, UK Research and Innovation
Alma mater	University of Cambridge (BA), St Bartholomew's Hospital (MB BChir)
Known for	Chief Scientific Adviser to the UK Government, Government Office for Science, UK Research and Innovation
Awards	Knight Bachelor (2009), Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS), Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences (FMedSci)

Professor Sir Mark Walport is a prominent British immunologist, medical researcher, and senior science advisor who has held several of the most influential positions in UK science and health policy. His career spans leading academic research at Imperial College London, directing the major biomedical charity the Wellcome Trust, serving as the Chief Scientific Adviser to the UK Government, and becoming the first Chief Executive of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). Knighted in 2009 for services to medical research, he is a Fellow of the Royal Society and has played a critical role in shaping the national research landscape and advising governments on issues from pandemic influenza to climate change.

Early life and education

Born on 20 March 1953, Mark Jeremy Walport was educated at Bristol Grammar School before proceeding to higher education. He read Natural Sciences at St John's College, Cambridge, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree. He then completed his clinical medical training, earning his Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MB BChir) qualifications from St Bartholomew's Hospital, which was then part of the University of London. His early academic foundation at these prestigious institutions laid the groundwork for his future career in both clinical medicine and scientific research.

Career and research

Walport's research career focused primarily on the field of immunology, with a special interest in rheumatology and autoimmune diseases. He held academic positions at the Royal Postgraduate Medical School and subsequently at Imperial College London, where he became a professor of medicine. His investigative work contributed significantly to the understanding of systemic lupus erythematosus and the role of the complement system in human disease. His leadership in the scientific community was recognized through his election as a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences and later as a Fellow of the Royal Society.

Chief Scientific Adviser and Government Service

In April 2013, Walport was appointed as the Chief Scientific Adviser to the UK Government, succeeding Sir John Beddington. In this role, he headed the Government Office for Science and provided independent scientific advice to the Prime Minister and the Cabinet. His tenure covered critical national and global challenges, including responses to the Ebola virus epidemic in West Africa, preparedness for pandemic influenza, and policy development concerning antimicrobial resistance, synthetic biology, and climate change. He also served as the UK's National Security Council Advisor on science and technology.

UK Research and Innovation

Following his government service, Walport was instrumental in the establishment of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), a new non-departmental public body created to oversee the UK's research and innovation funding. In 2017, he was appointed as its inaugural Chief Executive, tasked with bringing together seven Research Councils, Innovate UK, and the research funding from Higher Education Funding Council for England. He led UKRI through its formative years, shaping its strategy to support British science and commercial innovation across disciplines from the arts and humanities to engineering and physical sciences.

Honours and awards

Walport has received numerous honours in recognition of his contributions to science and public service. He was appointed a Knight Bachelor in the 2009 New Year Honours for services to medical research. His scientific eminence is marked by his fellowships, including Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS) and Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences (FMedSci). He also holds honorary degrees from several universities, including the University of Bristol and University of Warwick, and is an Honorary Fellow of his alma mater, St John's College, Cambridge.

Personal life

Sir Mark Walport is married to a consultant physician, and the couple has two children. He has maintained a connection to the cultural sector, having served as a trustee of the National Gallery and on the board of the Royal National Theatre. Beyond his professional commitments, his interests include the arts and the broader relationship between science, culture, and society.

Category:1953 births Category:Living people Category:British immunologists Category:British medical researchers Category:Knights Bachelor Category:Fellows of the Royal Society Category:Fellows of the Academy of Medical Sciences Category:Alumni of the University of Cambridge Category:Alumni of St Bartholomew's Hospital Category:Academics of Imperial College London Category:Chief Scientific Advisers to the UK Government Category:People educated at Bristol Grammar School