Melvyn Greaves facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sir Melvyn Greaves
FRS FMedSci
|
|
|---|---|
Greaves delivering the Cancer Research UK Lifetime Achievement Prize lecture at the 2015 National Cancer Research Institute (NCRI) Conference
|
|
| Born | 12 September 1941 |
| Alma mater | University College London |
| Scientific career | |
| Institutions |
|
Sir Melvyn Francis Greaves (born 12 September 1941) is a famous British cancer biologist. He is a Professor of Cell Biology at the Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) in London. Professor Greaves is well-known for his important work on childhood leukaemia. He also studies how evolution plays a part in cancer. His discoveries have greatly helped us understand the genes and tiny parts of cells that cause leukaemia.
His Early Studies
Melvyn Greaves first studied zoology (the study of animals) and immunology (the study of how our bodies fight off sickness). He earned his PhD degree in 1968 from University College London. A PhD is a very high university degree.
Discovering Cancer's Secrets
In the mid-1970s, Professor Greaves became very interested in leukaemia. This interest grew after he visited Great Ormond Street Hospital, a famous children's hospital.
He worked at the Imperial Cancer Research Fund laboratories. Later, in 1984, he moved to the ICR. At the ICR, he led the Leukaemia Research Fund's Centre for Cell and Molecular Biology of Leukaemia from 1984 to 2003. In 2013, he started the Centre for Cancer Evolution. This centre looks at how cancer changes over time, much like living things evolve.
Important Recognitions
Professor Greaves has received many awards and honours for his groundbreaking work. These include:
- 1986 Honorary MRCP from the Royal College of Physicians in London.
- 1988 the King Faisal International Prize in medicine for his work on leukemia.
- 1999 Elected a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences, UK (FMedSci).
- 1999 Gold Medal from the British Society for Haematology.
- 2003 Elected a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS). This is a very high honour for scientists.
- 2015 the Cancer Research UK Lifetime Achievement in Cancer Research Prize.
- 2017 the Royal Medal of the Royal Society.
- 2018 he was made a Knight Bachelor for his services to Childhood Leukaemia Research. This honour was given in the 2019 New Year Honours.
