Julia Polak
Encyclopedia
Dame
Professor Julia Margaret Polak, DBE
, FMedSci
(born 1939, Argentina
) is a current head of the Centre for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine at Imperial College London
, a centre for medical research she set up with Professor Larry Hench, also from Imperial College, to develop cells and tissues for transplantation into humans.
, before moving to London. She is married to Professor Daniel Catovsky, and has three children.
. It was her transplant in 1995 which caused her to change her career direction from Pathology
towards the newly developing field of Tissue Engineering
.
She is now editor of the journal, Tissue Engineering, as well as a member of the MRC/UK Stem Cell Bank Clinical and User Liaison Committee and an advisor to the Science and Parliament Committees. She has also been recognized as one of the most highly cited and influential researchers in her field.
Her work has been recognized by the Society for Endocrinology, the International Academy of Pathology and the Association of Clinical Pathologists. She has received funding through the Texas/United Kingdom Collaborative Research Initiative in Biosciences.
.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
Professor Julia Margaret Polak, DBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, FMedSci
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....
(born 1939, Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
) is a current head of the Centre for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine at Imperial College London
Imperial College London
Imperial College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom, specialising in science, engineering, business and medicine...
, a centre for medical research she set up with Professor Larry Hench, also from Imperial College, to develop cells and tissues for transplantation into humans.
Personal life
She was educated at the University of Buenos AiresUniversity of Buenos Aires
The University of Buenos Aires is the largest university in Argentina and the largest university by enrollment in Latin America. Founded on August 12, 1821 in the city of Buenos Aires, it consists of 13 faculties, 6 hospitals, 10 museums and is linked to 4 high schools: Colegio Nacional de Buenos...
, before moving to London. She is married to Professor Daniel Catovsky, and has three children.
Career
Polak is one of the longest surviving recipients of a heart and lung transplant in the United KingdomUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. It was her transplant in 1995 which caused her to change her career direction from Pathology
Pathology
Pathology is the precise study and diagnosis of disease. The word pathology is from Ancient Greek , pathos, "feeling, suffering"; and , -logia, "the study of". Pathologization, to pathologize, refers to the process of defining a condition or behavior as pathological, e.g. pathological gambling....
towards the newly developing field of Tissue Engineering
Tissue engineering
Tissue engineering is the use of a combination of cells, engineering and materials methods, and suitable biochemical and physio-chemical factors to improve or replace biological functions...
.
She is now editor of the journal, Tissue Engineering, as well as a member of the MRC/UK Stem Cell Bank Clinical and User Liaison Committee and an advisor to the Science and Parliament Committees. She has also been recognized as one of the most highly cited and influential researchers in her field.
Her work has been recognized by the Society for Endocrinology, the International Academy of Pathology and the Association of Clinical Pathologists. She has received funding through the Texas/United Kingdom Collaborative Research Initiative in Biosciences.
Honours
She was named in the Queen's Birthday Honours List 2003 and was made Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire for her services to medicine. In 2004 she received the Ellison-Cliffe Medal from the Royal Society of MedicineRoyal Society of Medicine
The Royal Society of Medicine is a British charitable organisation whose main purpose is as a provider of medical education, running over 350 meetings and conferences each year.- History and overview :...
.