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Report of the General Board on the establishment of a second Professorship of Obstetrics and Gynaecology

The GENERAL BOARD beg leave to report to the University as follows:

1. The Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology has strong research interests in reproductive medicine and gynaecological oncology with particular strengths in the study of the growth of new blood vessels (angiogenesis). Since the appointment of the present Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology in October 1988, a research group centred in the Department has established an international reputation for the study of angiogenesis in reproduction. This group is one of six laboratories worldwide engaged on the Rockefeller/World Health Organisation Implantation Initiative. Other research interests have led to the Department developing close interaction with a number of University Departments within both the Clinical School and the School of the Biological Sciences. Research is also undertaken in collaboration with the Wellcome Trust Centre for the Study of Molecular Mechanisms in Disease at the Clinical School, and with other research groups in the Cambridge area, particularly the MRC Human Genome Mapping Project Resource Centre located at Hinxton.

2. The Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology is responsible for delivering a major component in the clinical curriculum leading to Part II of the Final M.B. Examination. The Department also organizes and co-ordinates a programme undertaken by clinical students during their assignment to hospitals in the East Anglian region. The teaching responsibilities of the Department continue to increase as a result of the growth in the number of clinical students admitted into the Clinical School each year. Members of the Department play a significant role in the training of junior doctors and the supervision of students registered for the Ph.D. Degree, and have a substantial input into a number of programmes in continuing medical education.

3. The Department has an establishment consisting of one Professor, two University Lecturers at Consultant level, a University Lecturer, and a Clinical Lecturer. However, and in view of the increasingly diverse nature of obstetrics and gynaecology, the Faculty Board of Clinical Medicine consider that there is a need for current research activities to be broadened, particularly in the fields of obstetric and gynaecological malignancy. The Faculty Board have accordingly advised the General Board of their view that a new senior appointment should now be made to strengthen the Department's overall teaching, research, and clinical work, and have proposed that a second Professorship of Obstetrics and Gynaecology be established from 1 October 2000. The Faculty Board consider that the establishment of the Professorship would complement the work of the current Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, and they would expect the person appointed to build up teaching and research programmes and to raise substantial external funding for the support of research in his or her field of expertise.

4. The General Board have accepted the case made by the Faculty Board. Funds have been made available by the Beebe Fund (11%), the NHS Regional Academic Posts budget (45%), and the Addenbrooke's NHS Trust (44%) to meet the full cost of the establishment of the Professorship, at Consultant level, for one tenure. Should the NHS financial support cease prematurely, the cost of the office would be met by the Faculty Board ahead of any new developments or the filling of vacant offices, from within their existing resources. The General Board are assured that suitable accommodation for the Professor is available and that the requisite level of secretarial and technical support will be provided from the Beebe Fund for a period of five years. The Board are satisfied that an appointment at this level will be likely to attract a strong field of well-qualified candidates. The Addenbrooke's NHS Trust have agreed to award an Honorary NHS Consultant Contract to the Professor and to provide access to beds and other clinical facilities.

5. The General Board accordingly propose that a second Professorship of Obstetrics and Gynaecology be established in the University from 1 October 2000, for one tenure, and assigned to the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. They have agreed to concur in the view of the Faculty Board of Clinical Medicine that the election to the Professorship should be made by an ad hoc Board of Electors and that candidature should be open without limitation or preference to all persons whose work falls within the general field of the title of the office.

6. The General Board recommend:

That a second Professorship of Obstetrics and Gynaecology be established for one tenure from 1 October 2000, placed in Schedule B of Statutes, and assigned to the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.

9 February 2000

ALEC N. BROERS, Vice-Chancellor MALCOLM GRANT N. J. MACKINTOSH
P. J. BAYLEY BRIAN F. G. JOHNSON ADRIAN POOLE
A. L. R. FINDLAY JOHN A. LEAKE KATE PRETTY
K. GLOVER PETER LIPTON M. SCHOFIELD

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Cambridge University Reporter, 1 March 2000
Copyright © 2000 The Chancellor, Masters and Scholars of the University of Cambridge.