Ian McGregor (malariologist) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Professor Sir
Ian McGregor
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| Born |
Ian Alexander McGregor
26 August 1922 |
| Died | 1 February 2007 (aged 84) |
| Nationality | United Kingdom |
| Education | Rutherglen Academy |
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Sir Ian Alexander McGregor (26 August 1922 – 1 February 2007) was a famous Scottish scientist. He was known for studying and fighting malaria. Malaria is a serious disease spread by mosquitoes.
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Early Life and Learning
Ian Alexander McGregor was born in Cambuslang, Lanarkshire, Scotland. His father worked as a tailor, and his mother was a housewife.
He went to school at Rutherglen Academy. After that, he studied medicine. He learned at St Mungo's College and Glasgow Royal Infirmary.
Discovering Malaria Research
During his time in the Royal Army Medical Corps, Ian McGregor served in Palestine. This was part of his National Service. National Service meant that young people had to join the armed forces for a period.
While serving, he became very interested in malaria. He even trained in malariology at a special school. Malariology is the study of malaria.
Important Work in The Gambia
In 1949, Ian McGregor went to The Gambia, a country in West Africa. He joined the Medical Research Council (MRC). The MRC is a group that does important health research.
He worked with the MRC's Human Nutrition Research Unit. In 1954, he became the Director of the MRC's research station in Fajara, The Gambia. He spent many years there, doing vital work to understand and fight malaria.
Return to the UK
After his long and important work in The Gambia, Ian McGregor returned to the United Kingdom in 1980. He became a visiting professor at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine. This school teaches about diseases found in tropical countries.
Awards and Honors
Sir Ian McGregor received many important awards for his work. These awards showed how much his research helped people.
In 1974, he was given the Darling Foundation Medal. This medal is given to people who do great work in fighting malaria.
He was also chosen as a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1981. Being a Fellow of the Royal Society is a very high honor for scientists in the UK. He also became a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh.
He received several honors from the British Crown:
- In 1959, he was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE).
- In 1968, he became a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE).
- In 1982, he was made a Knight Bachelor. This meant he could use the title "Sir" before his name. These honors were given "for services to Tropical Medicine."
He also helped the World Health Organization (WHO). He served on several WHO committees that focused on malaria. The WHO is a global group that works to improve health around the world.
Sir Ian McGregor passed away in 2007 in Homington, Wiltshire, England.
