Alastair Buchan
Encyclopedia
Professor Alastair Buchan (born 16 October 1955) is a neurologist and researcher in stroke
medicine
. His main research interest has always been how to make neuroprotection a reality in the clinic. Since October 2008 he has served as the Head of the Medical Sciences Division at the University of Oxford
.
Buchan was educated at Repton School
in Derbyshire
and graduated in 1980 from his medical studies at the University of Cambridge
, University of Oxford and Harvard University.
His post-graduate medical training was undertaken with Sir David Weatherall
in Oxford. Buchan completed his neurological training in North America, with Henry J.M. Barnett in London, Ontario
and in stroke with Fred Plum
in New York. Subsequently, Buchan held staff positions as a consultant neurologist in London and Ottawa
before becoming the Heart and Stroke Foundation Professor in Stroke Research in Calgary, Alberta
in 1995.
During his ten years in Calgary, Buchan built up a team which established a fully comprehensive regional Stroke Programme leading CASES, ASPECTS and FASTER. When he returned to Oxford in 2005 he left Calgary with an Acute Stroke Imaging Centre, an Experimental Imaging Centre and the Clinical Stroke Programme, which facilitate translation of the experimental research work in the laboratory to the clinical setting. For his services, the University of Calgary awarded Buchan an honorary Degrees of Laws (LLD) in May 2009.
Buchan was elected to the Chair of Clinical Geratology at the University of Oxford in July 2004. Since 2005, his successes in Oxford have included obtaining funding from the MRC
, the Le Ducq Foundation and the Dunhill Foundation to set up an Acute Stroke Programme in collaboration with Peter Jezzard and Peter Rothwell. He is the Translational Research Director for the UK Stroke Research Network. Buchan has led the Oxford University bid for a Wellcome
Clinical Research facility and has successfully obtained funding for the new Acute Vascular
Imaging
Centre (AVIC.
In 2007 Buchan was appointed Director for the Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, one of the five comprehensive centres for the new English NIHR. At the same time, he was charged with the task of heading the John Radcliffe Hospital
Division of the Nuffield Department of Medicine. He established and chaired the cabinet of the UK Biomedical Research Directors for the other five centres in the country.
In April 2007 he was made a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences
(FMedSci).
This was followed by Buchan's appointment to the Headship of the Medical Sciences Division at the University of Oxford as of October 2008.
Professor Buchan is Professor of Stroke Medicine and a fellow of Corpus Christi College
, a college made up of over 240 undergraduate and 115 graduate students in various disciplines including medicine, health, science, social science and humanities.
His belief in mentoring future and current medical students includes acting as a Governor at Repton School since 20075 where he is developing a science priory to encourage greater interest in science.
His additional commitments include his role as a Member of Council, University of Oxford; Non-Executive Director of the Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals; Trustee of the Jenner Institute; Nuffield Medical Trustee and member of the Board of the Charite Hospital Stroke Programme in Berlin. He is the Senior Member of the Osler House Club and a Member of the Athenaeum Club in London.
Stroke
A stroke, previously known medically as a cerebrovascular accident , is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia caused by blockage , or a hemorrhage...
medicine
Medicine
Medicine is the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....
. His main research interest has always been how to make neuroprotection a reality in the clinic. Since October 2008 he has served as the Head of the Medical Sciences Division at the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
.
Buchan was educated at Repton School
Repton School
Repton School, founded in 1557, is a co-educational English independent school for both day and boarding pupils, in the British public school tradition, located in the village of Repton, in Derbyshire, in the Midlands area of England...
in Derbyshire
Derbyshire
Derbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England. A substantial portion of the Peak District National Park lies within Derbyshire. The northern part of Derbyshire overlaps with the Pennines, a famous chain of hills and mountains. The county contains within its boundary of approx...
and graduated in 1980 from his medical studies at the University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
, University of Oxford and Harvard University.
His post-graduate medical training was undertaken with Sir David Weatherall
David Weatherall
Sir David John Weatherall is a British physician and researcher in molecular genetics, haematology, pathology and clinical medicine....
in Oxford. Buchan completed his neurological training in North America, with Henry J.M. Barnett in London, Ontario
London, Ontario
London is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city has a population of 352,395, and the metropolitan area has a population of 457,720, according to the 2006 Canadian census; the metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city...
and in stroke with Fred Plum
Fred Plum
Fred Plum was an American neurologist who developed the terms"persistent vegetative state" and "locked-in syndrome" as part of his continuing research on consciousness and comas and care of the comatose....
in New York. Subsequently, Buchan held staff positions as a consultant neurologist in London and Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
before becoming the Heart and Stroke Foundation Professor in Stroke Research in Calgary, Alberta
Calgary
Calgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
in 1995.
During his ten years in Calgary, Buchan built up a team which established a fully comprehensive regional Stroke Programme leading CASES, ASPECTS and FASTER. When he returned to Oxford in 2005 he left Calgary with an Acute Stroke Imaging Centre, an Experimental Imaging Centre and the Clinical Stroke Programme, which facilitate translation of the experimental research work in the laboratory to the clinical setting. For his services, the University of Calgary awarded Buchan an honorary Degrees of Laws (LLD) in May 2009.
Buchan was elected to the Chair of Clinical Geratology at the University of Oxford in July 2004. Since 2005, his successes in Oxford have included obtaining funding from the MRC
Medical Research Council (UK)
The Medical Research Council is a publicly-funded agency responsible for co-ordinating and funding medical research in the United Kingdom. It is one of seven Research Councils in the UK and is answerable to, although politically independent from, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills...
, the Le Ducq Foundation and the Dunhill Foundation to set up an Acute Stroke Programme in collaboration with Peter Jezzard and Peter Rothwell. He is the Translational Research Director for the UK Stroke Research Network. Buchan has led the Oxford University bid for a Wellcome
Wellcome Trust
The Wellcome Trust was established in 1936 as an independent charity funding research to improve human and animal health. With an endowment of around £13.9 billion, it is the United Kingdom's largest non-governmental source of funds for biomedical research...
Clinical Research facility and has successfully obtained funding for the new Acute Vascular
Vascular
Vascular in zoology and medicine means "related to blood vessels", which are part of the circulatory system. An organ or tissue that is vascularized is heavily endowed with blood vessels and thus richly supplied with blood....
Imaging
Medical imaging
Medical imaging is the technique and process used to create images of the human body for clinical purposes or medical science...
Centre (AVIC.
In 2007 Buchan was appointed Director for the Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, one of the five comprehensive centres for the new English NIHR. At the same time, he was charged with the task of heading the John Radcliffe Hospital
John Radcliffe Hospital
The John Radcliffe Hospital is a large tertiary teaching hospital in Oxford, England.It is the main teaching hospital for Oxford University and Oxford Brookes University. As such, it is a well-developed centre of medical research. It also incorporates the Medical School of the University of Oxford....
Division of the Nuffield Department of Medicine. He established and chaired the cabinet of the UK Biomedical Research Directors for the other five centres in the country.
In April 2007 he was made a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences
Academy of Medical Sciences
The Academy of Medical Sciences is the United Kingdom's national academy of medical sciences. It was established in 1998 on the recommendation of a group that was chaired by Michael Atiyah. Its president is John Irving Bell....
(FMedSci).
This was followed by Buchan's appointment to the Headship of the Medical Sciences Division at the University of Oxford as of October 2008.
Professor Buchan is Professor of Stroke Medicine and a fellow of Corpus Christi College
Corpus Christi College, Oxford
Corpus Christi College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom...
, a college made up of over 240 undergraduate and 115 graduate students in various disciplines including medicine, health, science, social science and humanities.
His belief in mentoring future and current medical students includes acting as a Governor at Repton School since 20075 where he is developing a science priory to encourage greater interest in science.
His additional commitments include his role as a Member of Council, University of Oxford; Non-Executive Director of the Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals; Trustee of the Jenner Institute; Nuffield Medical Trustee and member of the Board of the Charite Hospital Stroke Programme in Berlin. He is the Senior Member of the Osler House Club and a Member of the Athenaeum Club in London.