Irwin McLean facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Irwin McLean
FRS FRSE FMedSci
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| Born |
William Henry Irwin McLean
9 January 1963 |
| Alma mater | Queen's University of Belfast (BSc, PhD, DSc) |
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| Institutions | University of Dundee |
| Thesis | Electrophoretic and immunological analysis of proteins in the muscular dystrophies (1988) |
William Henry Irwin McLean (born in 1963) is an Irish scientist. He is a retired professor who studies genetics at the University of Dundee in Scotland.
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Education and Early Research
Irwin McLean studied at Queen's University of Belfast. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in microbiology in 1985. Microbiology is the study of very tiny living things like bacteria.
In 1988, he completed his PhD. A PhD is a high-level university degree. For his PhD, he studied proteins linked to muscular dystrophy. This is a group of diseases that weaken muscles over time.
Understanding Genetic Skin Conditions
Professor McLean's laboratory focuses on genetic disorders. These are conditions caused by changes in our genes. His team specifically studies problems that affect the epithelium. This is the tissue that forms the outer layer of our skin and lines our organs.
His research helps us understand how these conditions happen. It also helps find new ways to treat them. Important groups like the Medical Research Council and the Wellcome Trust help fund his work.
Discoveries About Skin Diseases
Professor McLean is famous for his work on heritable skin diseases. These are skin conditions that can be passed down through families.
He found that changes in a gene called filaggrin can cause problems. These changes are quite common, affecting about 10% of people. They lead to a dry, flaky skin condition called ichthyosis vulgaris.
Even more importantly, he discovered that these gene changes also make people more likely to get atopic eczema. Eczema is a common skin condition that causes red, itchy patches. His work showed that a problem with the skin's protective barrier, not just an immune system issue, is a main cause of eczema. This discovery changed how doctors think about and treat eczema.
Professor McLean also found the genes responsible for other rare skin and tissue problems. These include pachyonychia congenita, which affects nails and skin, and Meesmann corneal dystrophy, which affects the eyes. His research has shown how important certain proteins are for giving our skin and other tissues their strength.
Awards and Recognition
Professor McLean has received many important awards for his scientific work. In 2014, he was chosen as a Fellow of the Royal Society. This is a very high honor for scientists in the United Kingdom.
He is also a:
- DSc
- Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh (FRSE)
- Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences (FMedSci)
