John Savill facts for kids

Sir John Stewart Savill was born on April 25, 1957. He is a very important scientist in the UK. He used to be the head of the Medical Research Council (MRC). This is a big organization that supports medical research. He also led the College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine at the University of Edinburgh. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society, which is a special honor for top scientists.

Education and Early Career

John Savill studied at two well-known universities. He went to St Catherine's College, Oxford and the University of Sheffield. In 1981, he earned his medical degree from the University of Sheffield. Later, in 1989, he completed his PhD. His PhD research focused on macrophages, which are a type of immune cell. He did this work at the Royal Postgraduate Medical School.

Research on Cell Health

Sir John Savill is famous for his research on apoptosis and immunology.

• Apoptosis is like a natural "self-destruct" program for cells. It's a normal and important process where old or damaged cells die in a controlled way. This helps keep the body healthy.
• Immunology is the study of the immune system. This system protects your body from sickness and infections.

His research looks at how cell death and macrophages work together. Macrophages are special cells that "clean up" dead cells and help the body heal. He is especially interested in how these processes help with inflammation. Inflammation is when a part of your body becomes red, swollen, and painful, often because of injury or infection. He studied kidney problems like glomerulonephritis and tubulointerstitial nephritis, which are types of kidney inflammation.

Besides his research, Sir John Savill also worked as a doctor. He was an Honorary Consultant Physician and Nephrologist. This means he was a specialist in kidney diseases. He also helped lead the Lothian Health Board, which manages health services in a part of Scotland.

Leadership and Academic Roles

Sir John Savill has held many important leadership roles in science and medicine. He has helped guide research and support scientists' careers.

Key Roles and Responsibilities

• Vice Principal and Head of College: From 2002, he was the head of the College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine at the University of Edinburgh. This is a very big job, overseeing many medical and veterinary studies.
• Professor of Experimental Medicine: He became a professor in 1998, teaching and doing research in experimental medicine.
• Chief Executive of the Medical Research Council (MRC): From 2010, he led the MRC in the UK. The MRC is a major organization that funds and supports medical research to improve human health.

Past Contributions

• Director of Research Centre: He used to be the director of the MRC and University of Edinburgh Centre for Inflammation Research. Here, he continued his work on how cells in the kidney deal with inflammation.
• Chairman of Boards: He chaired important committees within the MRC, helping decide which research projects get funding. He also led a group that looked at how doctors can have careers in both medicine and research.

Awards and Special Honors

Sir John Savill has received many awards for his important work.

• Knight Bachelor: In 2008, he was made a Knight Bachelor. This means he can use the title "Sir."
• Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS): In 2013, he became a Fellow of the Royal Society. This is one of the highest honors a scientist can receive in the UK.
• Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians (FRCP): He was also recognized by the Royal College of Physicians, a group for medical doctors.
• Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences (FMedSci): He is a fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences, which brings together leading medical scientists.
• Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh (FRSE): He is also a fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, Scotland's national academy of science and letters.
• Honorary Member: He is an honorary member of the British Society for Immunology.
• Harveian Society of Edinburgh: He was a member and even served as President of the Harveian Society of Edinburgh, a medical society.
• Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences: In 2021, he was elected a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences.