As another academic year concludes, I am delighted to welcome you to the first edition of my blog, as Dean of Life Sciences.
I am thrilled to announce that our Faculty continues to excel in global rankings. The Faculty of Life Sciences is ranked fourth in the world for Pharmacy and Pharmacology, sixth for Biological Sciences, and ninth for Life Sciences (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024).
One of the highlights this year has been the opening of the People and Nature Lab Rooftop Garden, a testament to UCL’s commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration and our Grand Challenges. This innovative space is already a vibrant hub for both research and relaxation.
I extend my congratulations to Professors Ijeoma Uchegbu FMedSci and Andreas Schatzlein from the UCL School of Pharmacy, who have been honoured with the King’s Award for Enterprise 2024 in the category of innovation. This remarkable achievement underscores the cutting-edge work within our Faculty.
We are also celebrating the School of Pharmacy’s recent success in achieving the Silver Athena SWAN Award, reflecting our ongoing dedication to advancing gender equality and supporting career progression for all staff.
Our alumni continue to shine on the global stage, with three of our own – Sioned Jones, Tara O’Driscoll, and James McBride – making the latest Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe list. Their achievements are a source of great pride and inspiration.
In research news, we are thrilled to announce that Professor Jürg Bähler from the UCL Institute of Healthy Ageing has secured two large funding grants. Professor Bähler has been awarded an ERC Advanced Grant, one of nine awarded to UCL researchers this year. This prestigious funding will support his pioneering work on the roles of priority unstudied proteins in cellular quiescence and ageing. Additionally, he has received an eight-year Wellcome Discovery Award to pursue bold and creative research ideas that promise significant advances in our understanding of human life, health, and wellbeing.
Our Faculty’s research continues to capture widespread attention. Professor Roberto Mayor’s study on how pressure in the womb may influence facial development has garnered significant media coverage. Additionally, a global analysis co-led by Professor Ian C.K. Wong and Dr Kenneth Man suggests that the link between maternal diabetes and child ADHD may not be causal, challenging previous assumptions and opening new avenues for research.I am immensely proud of our Faculty’s accomplishments and the extraordinary team that makes them possible. I look forward to sharing more exciting developments with you in the months ahead.
Professor Gail Taylor
Dean, UCL Faculty of Life Sciences