Chris Toumazou facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Christofer Toumazou
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| Born | 5 July 1961 Cheltenham, England
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| Alma mater | Oxford Brookes University |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Electronic Engineering/Medical Technology |
| Institutions | Imperial College London |
| Thesis | Universal current-mode analogue amplifiers (1986) |
| Doctoral advisor | Francis John Lidgey |
Christofer "Chris" Toumazou (born 5 July 1961) is a British engineer. He is famous for inventing a quick way to read our DNA. This invention became very important to him. It happened after his 13-year-old son was diagnosed with a serious kidney problem. This problem was caused by a rare change in his genes.
In 2013, he became London's first Regius Professor of Engineering. This special title was given to Imperial College London.
Chris won the Gabor Medal in 2013 and the European Inventor Award in 2014. He received these awards for his inventions. These inventions use tiny computer chips to test our genes. He was the first British person to win the European Inventor Award since 2008.
Contents
About Chris Toumazou
Early Life and Education
Chris Toumazou was born in Cheltenham, England. His parents were from Greece and Cyprus. He was inspired by his English uncle, who was an electrical engineer. This made Chris want to learn about electricity and engineering.
Chris started college in 1980. He studied at Oxford Polytechnic, which is now called Oxford Brookes University. He earned both his first degree and his doctorate there.
Becoming a Professor
In 1986, Chris moved to Imperial College London. He became a research fellow there. By 1994, at just 33 years old, he became the youngest professor at Imperial College.
He later became the head of the Circuits and Systems Group. Then, in 2001, he became the head of the Department of Bioengineering.
Helping People with Technology
In 2003, Chris helped create the Institute of Biomedical Engineering. This institute is at Imperial College London. He raised about £22 million for this project.
The institute focuses on "personalized medicine." This means creating special health solutions for each person. It also works on "nanobiotechnology." This uses very tiny technology for health. Chris was the first director and chief scientist of this institute. His special work is on devices that you can wear or have inside your body. These devices help find diseases early.
Starting Companies
Chris Toumazou also helped start two companies. These companies use silicon technology. This technology helps find and manage long-term diseases early. The companies are called Toumaz Technology Ltd and DNA Electronics Ltd.
Awards and Honours
Chris Toumazou has received many important awards for his work:
- 2022: Awarded the UNESCO-Equatorial Guinea International Prize for Research in the Life Sciences.
- 2020: Won the Joint Entrepreneur of the Year Award in the UK.
- 2016: Received a Lifetime Achievement award at the Elektra European Electronics Industry Awards.
- 2014: Awarded the IEEE Biomedical Engineering Award.
- 2014: Awarded the Faraday Medal from the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET).
- 2014: Given an honorary fellowship by Cardiff University.
- 2014: Winner of the European Inventor Award.
- 2013: Awarded the Gabor Medal by the Royal Society.
- 2013: Awarded the Regius Professorship.
- 2013: Elected as a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences.
- 2011: Awarded the J J Thomson medal from The Institution of Engineering and Technology.
- 2008: Elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society.
- 2008: Elected as a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering.
