Prof’s OBE
Professor Neil in Queen’s New Year Honours List
A Rutherglen man who has been a leading figure in the fight against cancer has been awarded an OBE.
Professor James Neil has been named in the Queen’s New Year Honours List for services to the advancement of biomedical sciences.
A Rutherglen man who has been a leading figure in the fight against cancer has been awarded an OBE.
Professor James Neil, well known as the chairman of Burnside Community Council, has been named in the Queen’s New Year Honours List for services to the advancement of biomedical sciences.
A professor of virology and molecular oncology at the University of Glasgow, Jim has conducted vital research into the AIDS virus and how similar viruses cause cancers in humans and animals.
Crucially, the 63- year- old’s work has identified specific genes that cause cancers, paving the way for treatments for these cancers to be developed.
Investigating these genes has been the major theme of Jim’s work over the past 35 years.
“I am delighted to be honoured in the Queen’s New Year list,” Jim said. “I was fortunate to choose a research field that has provided abundant opportunities for scientific discovery as well as important challenges for human and animal health.
“It has also been a special privilege to realise a personal vision in the development of the research complex on the University of Glasgow’s Garscube Campus. I am indebted to colleagues whose generous support and hard work has made all of this possible.”
Jim led the establishment of the MRC University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research in 2009 and jointly led the formation of the Institute of Comparative Medicine in 2002 that together led to £25million investment in new research buildings at Garscube.
He has also been an advisor to UK government committees, research councils and cancer charities.
James added: “My understanding is that an OBE is awarded not just for personal success, but for contributions to wider society. I feel priviliged to have had the opportunity to help bring benefits to the University and to the city.”
Recognised internationally for his contribution to science, Jim is well known throughout Rutherglen as chairman of Burnside Community Council.
Having moved to the area in 1978, Jim became an elder at Burnside Blairbeth Church and joined the community council several years ago.
He is married to Una and has three children and five grandchildren who keep him very busy in his spare time.
Meanwhile his current focus at work is testing promising new drugs that specifically interfere with the ability of leukaemia and lymphoma cells to survive and grow. It is funded by Bloodwise, the UK’s leading charity for research into leukaemia and lymphoma.
I am indebted to colleagues whose generous support and hard work has made all of this possible . . . Prof James Neil