Gordon McVie facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Gordon McVie
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| Born | 13 January 1945 Glasgow, Scotland
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| Died | 20 January 2021 (aged 76) Bristol, England
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| Nationality | British |
| Citizenship | United Kingdom |
| Alma mater | University of Edinburgh |
| Known for | Cancer research, Clinical Trials, Personalised Care |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Cancer research, clinical trials |
| Institutions | Netherlands Cancer Institute European Institute of Oncology Italian Institute for Molecular Oncology Cancer Research Campaign Cancer Research UK ecancer.org |
| Doctoral advisor | Gordon Hamilton-Fairley |
John Gordon McVie (13 January 1945 – 20 January 2021) was a world-famous expert in treating and researching cancer. He wrote over 350 articles and books about cancer. McVie was born in Glasgow, Scotland. He passed away in Bristol, England, from non-Hodgkin lymphoma and COVID-19.
He was part of many important groups, like the American Association for Cancer Research. He also served on the boards of cancer institutes in France, Italy, and the Netherlands. In the UK, he helped lead groups such as the Beatson Institute and the Institute of Cancer Research.
Gordon McVie was a visiting professor at King's College London. He also worked as a Senior Clinical Research Consultant in Milan, Italy. He was a leader in the European Alliance for Personalised Medicine. This group helps make sure cancer treatment is right for each person.
He made big improvements in cancer care. He helped create ways to give chemotherapy more precisely. He also pushed for chemotherapy to be used more widely for lung cancer in Europe. McVie also believed it was important to adjust a patient's treatment based on their background.
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Education and Early Career
Gordon McVie earned his science and medical degrees in 1969. He studied at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. After graduating, he became a teacher there, focusing on how medicines work.
Researching Cancer Treatments
In 1970, McVie started a research fellowship at Edinburgh University. He began studying Hodgkin lymphoma, a type of cancer. In 1975, he became a Senior Lecturer at the Cancer Research Campaign Oncology Unit in Glasgow.
He trained in the United States and other countries. He spent time at the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, Maryland. He also visited Paris, Sydney, and Amsterdam to learn more about cancer research.
Key Contributions to Cancer Research
Leading Research in the Netherlands
In 1979, McVie became the Clinical Research Director at the Netherlands Cancer Institute. He also worked as a consultant at the Antoni van Leewenhoek hospital in Amsterdam. There, he built a lab to develop new drugs. He also created a unit for early-stage drug testing. He helped start new treatments, like for ovarian cancer and sarcoma.
Advancing Lung Cancer Treatment
McVie led the lung cancer group at the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC). He researched new ways to combine chemotherapy and radiation. These methods became standard treatments for different types of lung cancer. He also helped young scientists share their new discoveries. He later became the President of EORTC.
Developing New Cancer Drugs
In 1989, Gordon McVie became the Scientific Director of the Cancer Research Campaign. During his time, over 60 new drugs went from labs to patient trials. Important "breakthrough" cancer drugs like carboplatin and olaparib were developed. He also helped create cancer trial networks across the UK.
He played a key role in combining the Cancer Research Campaign with another group. This led to the creation of Cancer Research UK (CRUK). It became the largest cancer charity in Europe.
Founding Cancer Research UK
In 2002, McVie became a joint CEO of Cancer Research UK. He continued to support testing new molecules for cancer. He also helped new companies focused on cancer research get started.
Sharing Knowledge Globally
In 2003, McVie started a new project called Cancer Intelligence. With Umberto Veronesi, he launched ecancer.org. This was a free online journal to share cancer information worldwide. It became a UK charity.
International Collaboration
From 2004, McVie worked as a Senior Consultant at the European Institute of Oncology in Milan. He set up a unit to test new medicines and devices. He also helped this new institute work closely with other top cancer centers around the world. In 2016, he joined the Italian Institute for Molecular Oncology in Milan.
Awards and Recognitions
Gordon McVie received many awards and honors throughout his career. These show how much he contributed to science and medicine.
- 1967: Gunning Victoria Jubilee Prize in Pathology
- 1977: Honeyman Gillespie Lecturer in Medicine
- 1995: King of Jordan’s Medal for Excellence in Science
- 1996: Honorary Doctor of Science (DSc) from University of Abertay, Dundee
- 1997: Honorary Doctor of Science (DSc) from University of Nottingham
- 1998: Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences (FMedSci)
- 1999: Honorary Doctor of Science (DSc) from University of Portsmouth
- 2000: Semmelweis Medal for Excellence in Science, Budapest
- 2001: Silver Medal, Royal Scottish Society of Arts
- 2001: Medal of the National Cancer Society of Greece
- 2001: Honorary Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons (FRCSE)
- 2002: Honorary Doctor of Science (DSc) from Napier University, Edinburgh
- 2004: Fellow of the European Academy of Cancer Sciences
- 2005: Honorary Doctor of Science (DSc) from University of Ghent, Belgium
- 2005: Honorary Doctor of Medicine (MD) from University of Bath
- 2017: Fellow of the Association of Cancer Physicians, UK
