Sir Patrick Vallance

Sir Patrick Vallance
Name	Sir Patrick Vallance
Birth date	17 March 1960
Birth place	Essex, England
Nationality	British
Alma mater	St George's Hospital Medical School, University of London
Occupation	Physician, scientist, civil servant
Known for	Government Chief Scientific Adviser (2018–2023), COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom

Sir Patrick Vallance is a British physician, clinical scientist, and former senior civil servant who served as the Government Chief Scientific Adviser (GCSA) to the Prime Minister and the Cabinet from 2018 to 2023. His tenure was dominated by the COVID-19 pandemic, during which he became a prominent public figure, regularly appearing alongside Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty at televised briefings from 10 Downing Street. Prior to his government role, he had a distinguished career in academia and the pharmaceutical industry, including serving as President of R&D at GlaxoSmithKline (GSK).

Early life and education

He was born in Essex and attended St George's Hospital Medical School, part of the University of London, where he qualified in MBBS in 1985. His early medical training included posts at St George's Hospital in London and Brompton Hospital. He subsequently pursued academic research, focusing on vascular biology and endothelial cell function, and was awarded a MD degree by the University of London for his work on the control of blood vessel tone.

Career in academia and industry

He began his academic career at the University College London (UCL), where he was appointed a Professor of Medicine and led the Centre for Clinical Pharmacology within the William Harvey Research Institute. His research, funded by bodies like the Wellcome Trust and the British Heart Foundation, made significant contributions to understanding nitric oxide pathways in the cardiovascular system. In 2006, he moved to the pharmaceutical industry, joining GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) as Senior Vice-President of Medicines Discovery. He rose to become President of Pharmaceutical R&D at GSK in 2012, overseeing a global portfolio of drug development projects across areas including respiratory disease, immunology, and oncology.

Government Chief Scientific Adviser

In March 2018, he was appointed as the Government Chief Scientific Adviser, succeeding Sir Mark Walport. As GCSA, he headed the Government Office for Science and was responsible for providing scientific advice to the Prime Minister and the Cabinet. He initiated a major review of the UK's research and development landscape and championed the role of science in addressing national priorities, from artificial intelligence to climate change. He also served as the UK's National Technology Adviser.

COVID-19 pandemic

His public profile was defined by his role during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom. He co-chaired the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) and was instrumental in advising the UK Government on its pandemic response, including the implementation of lockdown measures and the development of the COVID-19 vaccination programme. His televised briefings, often featuring explanatory graphs and data, aimed to communicate complex scientific concepts, such as the R number and herd immunity, to the public. His advice was central to decisions taken by the Cabinet Office and the Department of Health and Social Care.

Post-government work and other roles

After stepping down as GCSA in April 2023, he returned to academia, taking a senior role at UCL's Faculty of Medical Sciences. He was appointed as the UK's first National Advisor for Climate Change and Health by the Department of Health and Social Care. He also serves as the Chair of the Natural History Museum's Board of Trustees and holds advisory positions with several biotechnology firms and research institutes. He is a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences and the Royal Society.

Honours and awards

He was appointed Knight Bachelor in the 2022 New Year Honours for services to science in government. He is a Fellow of both the Royal Society (FRS) and the Academy of Medical Sciences (FMedSci). His other awards include the British Pharmacological Society's Gaddum Memorial Award and the William Harvey Award from the American Society of Hypertension. He holds honorary doctorates from several universities, including Bath and Glasgow.

Category:1960 births Category:Living people Category:British physicians Category:British civil servants Category:Government Chief Scientific Advisers (UK) Category:Knights Bachelor Category:Fellows of the Royal Society Category:Fellows of the Academy of Medical Sciences Category:Alumni of St George's, University of London Category:People from Essex