Reports

Report of the General Board on the establishment of two Readerships in the School of Clinical Medicine

The General Board beg leave to report to the University as follows:

1. Autoimmune diseases cause a major and increasing global health burden. These diseases, and the immunological mechanisms underpinning them, are the subject of substantial research efforts within the School of Clinical Medicine, aimed at deepening the understanding of disease pathogenesis and developing potential novel therapeutic strategies. This is in keeping with the School’s strategic focus on immunity and infections.

2. In order to exploit research in the area of immunity and infection for patient benefit, academic leadership in clinical research and trial design is required, and the Faculty Board of Clinical Medicine therefore propose the establishment of a Readership in Vasculitis, funded for a single tenure by Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Trust. Vasculitis – which refers to a number of conditions characterised by vascular inflammation, all of which are autoimmune in origin – has been chosen as the focus for the Readership in order to support Cambridge’s unique clinical strength in this area. Addenbrooke’s Hospital is the major national referral centre for Vasculitis and also leads EUVAS, the European Vasculitis Research Consortium. Cambridge University Hospitals would award an Honorary Consultant contract to the Reader; the Faculty Board have undertaken to provide support and facilities for the Readership from within existing resources.

3. The Human Genome Project, coupled with recent advances in genetic technologies, has led to major advances in understanding the genetic basis of human disease. The utilization of this information for patient benefit is one of the major themes of current medical research. There is growing interest in the potential for utilizing personalized risk prediction in both disease prevention and clinical management.

4. The Department of Public Health and Primary Care has a major research focus on the genetic and lifestyle determinants of common disease, including cancer. To utilize this research for risk prediction and personalized medicine, a strong critical mass in risk modelling and genetic risk prediction is essential. The Faculty Board of Clinical Medicine therefore propose the establishment of a Readership in Cancer Risk Prediction, the full costs of which will be met by the School of Clinical Medicine from within existing resources.

5. The General Board have accepted the Faculty Board’s proposal for the establishment of two Readerships. The criteria for appointment to a Readership through open competition will be identical to those for appointment through the senior academic promotions procedure. The Appointments Committee will be constituted as specified in the regulations for Readers and Readerships (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 743).

6. The General Board accordingly recommend:

I. That a Readership in Vasculitis be established in the Department of Medicine for a single tenure with effect from 1 August 2013.

II. That a Readership in Cancer Risk Prevention be established in the Department of Public Health and Primary Care for a single tenure with effect from 1 August 2013.

29 April 2013	L. K. Borysiewicz, Vice-Chancellor	Martin Daunton	Robert Kennicutt
	Philip Allmendinger	Simon Franklin	Patrick Maxwell
	N. Bampos	C. A. Gilligan	Rachael Padman
	H. A. Chase	David Good	John Rallison
	Sarah Coakley	Sadie Jarrett	Amanda Talhat

Report of the General Board on the establishment of a Readership in Neuroradiology in the Department of Radiology

The General Board beg leave to report to the University as follows:

1. Neuroscience has transformed our understanding of the healthy brain and promises treatments for devastating disorders that affect millions of people. As the search for more effective therapies continues, unravelling the complexities of the brain and mind has become a multi-disciplinary enterprise. Neuroscience now transcends biology and, increasingly, involves novel intellectual alliances such as computational, educational, and social neuroscience, neuroeconomics, neurophilosophy, and neuroethics.

2. The strong neuroscience community in Cambridge attracts large programme grants from national and international institutions which fund cutting-edge research. The reputation of the University’s teaching and research has ensured that applications for Ph.D. and M.Phil. programmes are received from around the world. Within the School of Clinical Medicine, several departments are targeting substantial resources and research effort at understanding the human nervous system and the diseases which affect it. The contribution of imaging is crucial and the Department of Radiology has played a major role in developing new techniques in computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and ultrasound and is a pioneer in new methods of interventional image-guided procedures. The University’s strength in neuroscience imaging is reflected in the facilities at the Wolfson Brain Imaging Centre, the MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, and the John van Geest Centre for Brain Repair.

3. In order to bring together the existing neuroimaging groups and provide leadership in research and teaching across the breadth of neuroscience topics, including neuroradiology, vascular imaging, and diffusion weighted MR imaging, the Faculty Board of Clinical Medicine propose the establishment of a Readership in Neuroradiology, to be funded for a single tenure by Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Trust. Cambridge University Hospitals would award an Honorary Consultant contract to the Reader; the Faculty Board have undertaken to provide support and facilities for the Readership from within existing resources.

4. The General Board have accepted the Faculty Board’s proposal for the establishment of this Readership. The criteria for appointment to a Readership through open competition will be identical to those for appointment through the senior academic promotions procedure. The Appointments Committee will be constituted as specified in the regulations for Readers and Readerships (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 743).

5. The General Board accordingly recommend:

I. That a Readership in Neuroradiology be established in the Department of Radiology for a single tenure with effect from 1 August 2013.

29 April 2013	L. K. Borysiewicz, Vice-Chancellor	Martin Daunton	Robert Kennicutt
	Philip Allmendinger	Simon Franklin	Patrick Maxwell
	N. Bampos	C. A. Gilligan	Rachael Padman
	H. A. Chase	David Good	John Rallison
	Sarah Coakley	Sadie Jarrett	Amanda Talhat