John Savill facts for kids

Sir John Stewart Savill, born on April 25, 1957, is a very important scientist from the UK. He has held many big leadership roles in medical research. For example, he was the Chief Executive of the Medical Research Council (MRC). This is a major organization that funds health research in the UK. He also led the College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine at the University of Edinburgh.

Sir John Savill's Education

John Savill studied at two well-known universities. He went to St Catherine's College, Oxford first. Then, he attended the University of Sheffield. In 1981, he earned his medical degree there. Later, in 1989, he completed his PhD. His PhD research focused on special cells called macrophages. He did this work at the Royal Postgraduate Medical School.

Research and Medical Career

Sir John Savill is famous for his research in two main areas. These are apoptosis and immunology. Apoptosis is the scientific term for how cells naturally die in the body. Immunology is the study of the body's immune system. This system protects us from sickness.

He has also worked as a doctor. He was an Honorary Consultant Physician and Nephrologist. This means he helped patients with kidney problems. He worked at the Lothian University Hospitals Division. He also helped guide health services as a member of the Lothian Health Board.

Sir John has a lot of experience in reviewing scientific work. He is very interested in how research is done and how scientists can build their careers. He even led a group that looked at careers for doctors who also do research.

Focus of His Research

John Savill's research mainly looks at how cell death and macrophages help the body heal. Macrophages are like cleanup crews in the body. They help clear away dead cells and fight inflammation. Inflammation is when a part of your body gets red, swollen, and painful.

He especially studies how these processes work in kidney diseases. These include conditions like glomerulonephritis and tubulointerstitial nephritis. These are types of inflammation that affect different parts of the kidney.

Leadership Roles and Contributions

Sir John Savill has held many important positions. These roles show his dedication to medical science.

• University of Edinburgh: Since October 2002, he has been a Vice Principal. He also led the College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine at the University of Edinburgh. He was a Professor of Experimental Medicine and Chair of Medicine since 1998.
• Medical Research Council (MRC): He was the Chief Executive of the MRC in the UK. He started this role on October 1, 2010. The MRC is a big organization that supports medical research. He also chaired one of the MRC's important boards.

Past Positions and Achievements

Before his most recent roles, Sir John also led other significant groups.

• Centre for Inflammation Research: He directed the Medical Research Council (MRC) and University of Edinburgh Centre for Inflammation Research. He still leads a team there. This team studies the tiny details of kidney inflammation.

Awards and Special Honours

Sir John Savill has received many awards for his work. These honors show how much his contributions are valued.

• In 2008, he was made a Knight Bachelor. This means he can use the title "Sir."
• In 2013, he was chosen as a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS). This is a very high honor for scientists.
• He also became a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians (FRCP).
• He was elected a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences (FMedSci).
• He also became a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh (FRSE).
• He is an honorary member of the British Society for Immunology.
• In 1999, he joined the Harveian Society of Edinburgh. He even served as its President in 2009.
• In 2021, he was elected a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences.