For he’s a jolly good Fellow – world- leading scientist honoured as he leaves

However, Professor David Hume will continue to play a key role with Scotland’s Rural College in future

An Edinburgh- based scientist who – in the words of Microsoft tycoon Bill Gates – has helped turn the city into “a world capital for livestock health and genetics”, has been presented with an honorary fellowship by Scotland’s Rural College ( SRUC).

Professor David Hume, former director of The Roslin Institute at the University of Edinburgh, has been recognised for his support in bringing together SRUC’S animal scientists with the expertise at Roslin – birthplace of Dolly the Sheep – to create a world- leading research hub.

Addressing graduates, parents, colleagues and guests gathered for the SRUC winter graduation ceremony at the University of Glasgow’s Bute Hall today, college principal Professor Wayne Powell is set to pay tribute to Prof Hume.

He is due to say: “David’s drive and energy, combined with similar attributes in key SRUC, Moredun and university staff, has allowed Edinburgh to become a world- leading hub for research in animal biosciences and associated agricultural systems. This is encapsulated in the Easter Bush Research Consortium ( EBRC) and proved its worth in 2014 when the joint application by SRUC and the University of Edinburgh to the UK’S Research Excellence Framework exercise was ranked top in research power.”

Previously director of the ARC Special Centre for Functional and Applied Genomics at the Institute for Molecular Bioscience at the University of Queensland, proud Australian Prof Hume FRSE, FSB, Fmedsci became director at the Roslin Institute in 2007. He will return to Australia to take up a new position in Brisbane in 2018, but will retain an honorary professorship and many ongoing collaborations in Edinburgh.

He is a global leader in his field of genome sciences, with a particular focus on the function of macrophages, specialised cells of the immune system involved in infection, inflammatory disease and cancer.

Professor Powell will add: “As David steps down from his directorships, it is a good time for SRUC to recognise his contribution through this award. However, development continues apace with David continuing to play a key role.”