Keith Peters (medicine)
Encyclopedia
Sir David Keith Peters FRS FMedSci FRCP FRCPE FRCPath FLSW (born 26 July 1938, Baglan, Neath Port Talbot) was Regius Professor of Physic
at the University of Cambridge
from 1987 to 2005, where he was also head of the School of Clinical Medicine
.
in 1961. After posts in the University of Birmingham
, the National Institute for Medical Research
at Mill Hill
and the Welsh National School of Medicine
, he was appointed Lecturer in Medicine and Consultant Physician at the Royal Postgraduate Medical School
(RPMS), Hammersmith Hospital
.
Between 1969 and 1975 he was successively Lecturer in Medicine, Lecturer in Medicine and Immunology, and Reader in Medicine
, before being appointed Professor of Medicine and Director of the Department of Medicine at the Royal Postgraduate Medical School in 1977. Keith Peters' research interests centre on the immunology of renal and vascular disease, and in particular on how delineation of immunological mechanisms can lead to new therapies for these disorders.
He was Knighted in the 1993 New Year's Honours List and was made Fellow of the Royal Society in 1995. His major contributions to UK medicine have been through the promotion of clinical research. At the RPMS he was responsible for sustaining the outstanding reputation of the Department of Medicine; and in Cambridge under his leadership the University's Clinical School
has become a major centre for medical research, complementing Cambridge's strengths in basic biomedical science. Universally acknowledged to be one of the great 'team makers' and for many is regarded as the king-maker of recent Cambridge science.
He was the President of the Academy of Medical Sciences
(2002–2006) and is currently a Senior Consultant in Research and Development for GlaxoSmithKline.
Peters is an Honorary Fellow of Christ's College and Clare Hall, Cambridge, Cambridge University and has received Honorary Doctorates and Fellowships from the following Universities: Wales, Aberdeen Nottingham,Paris, Birmingham, Leicester, Glasgow, Sussex, Bristol. He is also a Founding Fellow of the Learned Society of Wales
.
where he met his first wife, Jean Garfield. They had two children, Andrew and Katharine. They were divorced in 1977. He later married Pamela Ewan in 1978. They had three children, James, Hannah and William.
Regius Professor of Physic (Cambridge)
The Regius Professorship of Physic is one of the oldest professorships at the University of Cambridge, founded by Henry VIII in 1540. "Physic" is an old word for medicine, , not physics.-Regius Professors of Physic:...
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...
from 1987 to 2005, where he was also head of the School of Clinical Medicine
School of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge
The School of Clinical Medicine is the medical school of the University of Cambridge in England. According to QS World University Rankings 2010, it currently ranks as second best in the world....
.
Career
He graduated in Medicine from the Welsh National School of MedicineCardiff University School of Medicine
Cardiff University School of Medicine was founded in 1893 when the Departments of Anatomy, Physiology, Pharmacology, Pathology, Bacteriology were founded at University College of South Wales and Monmouthshire , in the same year. Students finishing their preclinical studies at Cardiff went on to...
in 1961. After posts in the University of Birmingham
University of Birmingham
The University of Birmingham is a British Redbrick university located in the city of Birmingham, England. It received its royal charter in 1900 as a successor to Birmingham Medical School and Mason Science College . Birmingham was the first Redbrick university to gain a charter and thus...
, the National Institute for Medical Research
National Institute for Medical Research
The National Institute for Medical Research, commonly abbreviated to NIMR, is a medical research facility situated in Mill Hill, on the outskirts of London, England. It is mainly funded by the Medical Research Council, or MRC, and is its largest establishment and the only one designated as an...
at Mill Hill
Mill Hill
Mill Hill is a place in the London Borough of Barnet. It is a suburb situated 9 miles north west of Charing Cross. Mill Hill was in the historic county of Middlesex until it was absorbed by London...
and the Welsh National School of Medicine
Cardiff University School of Medicine
Cardiff University School of Medicine was founded in 1893 when the Departments of Anatomy, Physiology, Pharmacology, Pathology, Bacteriology were founded at University College of South Wales and Monmouthshire , in the same year. Students finishing their preclinical studies at Cardiff went on to...
, he was appointed Lecturer in Medicine and Consultant Physician at the Royal Postgraduate Medical School
Royal Postgraduate Medical School
The Royal Postgraduate Medical School was an independent medical school, based primarily at Hammersmith Hospital in west London. In 1988, the school merged with the Institute of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, and in 1997 became part of the Imperial College School of Medicine.-History:The medical school...
(RPMS), Hammersmith Hospital
Hammersmith Hospital
Hammersmith Hospital is a major teaching hospital in West London. It is part of Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, and is associated with the Imperial College Faculty of Medicine...
.
Between 1969 and 1975 he was successively Lecturer in Medicine, Lecturer in Medicine and Immunology, and Reader in 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....
, before being appointed Professor of Medicine and Director of the Department of Medicine at the Royal Postgraduate Medical School in 1977. Keith Peters' research interests centre on the immunology of renal and vascular disease, and in particular on how delineation of immunological mechanisms can lead to new therapies for these disorders.
He was Knighted in the 1993 New Year's Honours List and was made Fellow of the Royal Society in 1995. His major contributions to UK medicine have been through the promotion of clinical research. At the RPMS he was responsible for sustaining the outstanding reputation of the Department of Medicine; and in Cambridge under his leadership the University's Clinical School
School of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge
The School of Clinical Medicine is the medical school of the University of Cambridge in England. According to QS World University Rankings 2010, it currently ranks as second best in the world....
has become a major centre for medical research, complementing Cambridge's strengths in basic biomedical science. Universally acknowledged to be one of the great 'team makers' and for many is regarded as the king-maker of recent Cambridge science.
He was the President 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....
(2002–2006) and is currently a Senior Consultant in Research and Development for GlaxoSmithKline.
Peters is an Honorary Fellow of Christ's College and Clare Hall, Cambridge, Cambridge University and has received Honorary Doctorates and Fellowships from the following Universities: Wales, Aberdeen Nottingham,Paris, Birmingham, Leicester, Glasgow, Sussex, Bristol. He is also a Founding Fellow of the Learned Society of Wales
Learned Society of Wales
The Learned Society of Wales is a society that exists to “celebrate, recognise, preserve, protect and encourage excellence in all of the scholarly disciplines”.The society was launched on 25 May 2010 at the National Museum of Wales...
.
Personal life
Keith Peters was born 26 July 1938 in Baglan, Neath Port Talbot, the only child of Herbert Lionel Peters, a steelworks foreman, and Olive Peters (née Mainwaring). He attended Glan Afan Grammar School and then studied medicine at the Welsh National School of Medicine, CardiffCardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
where he met his first wife, Jean Garfield. They had two children, Andrew and Katharine. They were divorced in 1977. He later married Pamela Ewan in 1978. They had three children, James, Hannah and William.