Philip Cohen
Encyclopedia
Sir Philip Cohen FRS FRSE
(born 22 July 1945) is a British researcher, academic and Royal Medal
winner. During the 1990s he was Britain's third most cited professor (and the second most cited in the fields of biology and biochemistry) and has been described by Professor Garry Taylor of the University of St Andrews
as "one of the world’s top scientists". and by Professor Peter Downes as "arguably the UK's leading biochemist and an iconic figure in UK science". As of 2008 he has written over 470 peer-reviewed papers and given over 250 invited lectures in 33 countries, and has been repeatedly linked to a move of biotechnology companies to Dundee and the economic regeneration that came with it, to the point where 15% of the local economy is derived from biotech companies and their employees. His work has also seen Dundee attracting some of the world's best scientists, with over 1% of the world's most cited scientists residing in Dundee and fundraising of more than £35 million over the last 10 years to help attract them.
County Grammar School he attended University College London
, where he was awarded a BSc in 1966 with first class honours and a PhD in 1969 under Michael Rosemeyer. After leaving UCL he spent two years at the University of Washington
doing postgraduate work with Edmond H. Fischer
before returning to Britain in 1971 to become a lecturer at the University of Dundee
, where he has remained for the last 37 years. He was made a reader in 1978 and gained a personal chair in 1981. In 1982 he was made a fellow of the European Molecular Biology Organization
, and in 1984 he became a Royal Society
Research professor and elected a fellow of both the Royal Society of Edinburgh
and Royal Society
. In 1990 he was made Director of the Medical Research Council Protein Phosphorylation Unit, and a fellow of the Academia Europea. In 1993 he was made a fellow of UCL and in the 1998 Queen's Birthday Honours
was knighted
, served as a founding member of the Academy of Medical Sciences
and was made an honorary fellow of the Royal College of Pathologists
. In 2006 it was announced that Sir Philip Cohen would be taking over as president of the Biochemical Society
. He is currently a director of the Division of Signal Transduction Therapy
.
in 1997, the Datta Medal of the Federation of European Biochemical Societies
the same year and a Royal Medal
in 2008 for "his major contribution to our understanding of the role of protein phosphorylation in cell regulation". He has also been given honorary DSc degrees from the universities of Abertay
, Strathclyde
, Linköping
and Debrecen
. He is now in the National Academy of Sciences.
Royal Society of Edinburgh
The Royal Society of Edinburgh is Scotland's national academy of science and letters. It is a registered charity, operating on a wholly independent and non-party-political basis and providing public benefit throughout Scotland...
(born 22 July 1945) is a British researcher, academic and Royal Medal
Royal Medal
The Royal Medal, also known as The Queen's Medal, is a silver-gilt medal awarded each year by the Royal Society, two for "the most important contributions to the advancement of natural knowledge" and one for "distinguished contributions in the applied sciences" made within the Commonwealth of...
winner. During the 1990s he was Britain's third most cited professor (and the second most cited in the fields of biology and biochemistry) and has been described by Professor Garry Taylor of the University of St Andrews
University of St Andrews
The University of St Andrews, informally referred to as "St Andrews", is the oldest university in Scotland and the third oldest in the English-speaking world after Oxford and Cambridge. The university is situated in the town of St Andrews, Fife, on the east coast of Scotland. It was founded between...
as "one of the world’s top scientists". and by Professor Peter Downes as "arguably the UK's leading biochemist and an iconic figure in UK science". As of 2008 he has written over 470 peer-reviewed papers and given over 250 invited lectures in 33 countries, and has been repeatedly linked to a move of biotechnology companies to Dundee and the economic regeneration that came with it, to the point where 15% of the local economy is derived from biotech companies and their employees. His work has also seen Dundee attracting some of the world's best scientists, with over 1% of the world's most cited scientists residing in Dundee and fundraising of more than £35 million over the last 10 years to help attract them.
Early life and career
He was born in Middlesex, and after leaving HendonHendon
Hendon is a London suburb situated northwest of Charing Cross.-History:Hendon was historically a civil parish in the county of Middlesex. The manor is described in Domesday , but the name, 'Hendun' meaning 'at the highest hill', is earlier...
County Grammar School he attended University College London
University College London
University College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and the oldest and largest constituent college of the federal University of London...
, where he was awarded a BSc in 1966 with first class honours and a PhD in 1969 under Michael Rosemeyer. After leaving UCL he spent two years at the University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
doing postgraduate work with Edmond H. Fischer
Edmond H. Fischer
Edmond H. Fischer is a Swiss American biochemist. He and his collaborator Edwin G. Krebs were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1992 for describing how reversible phosphorylation works as a switch to activate proteins and regulate various cellular processes.-Early life:Fischer...
before returning to Britain in 1971 to become a lecturer at the University of Dundee
University of Dundee
The University of Dundee is a university based in the city and Royal burgh of Dundee on eastern coast of the central Lowlands of Scotland and with a small number of institutions elsewhere....
, where he has remained for the last 37 years. He was made a reader in 1978 and gained a personal chair in 1981. In 1982 he was made a fellow of the European Molecular Biology Organization
European Molecular Biology Organization
EMBO stands for excellence in the life sciences. The EMBO mission is to enable the best science by supporting talented researchers, stimulating scientific exchange and advancing policies for a world-class European research environment....
, and in 1984 he became a Royal Society
Royal Society
The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
Research professor and elected a fellow of both the Royal Society of Edinburgh
Royal Society of Edinburgh
The Royal Society of Edinburgh is Scotland's national academy of science and letters. It is a registered charity, operating on a wholly independent and non-party-political basis and providing public benefit throughout Scotland...
and Royal Society
Royal Society
The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
. In 1990 he was made Director of the Medical Research Council Protein Phosphorylation Unit, and a fellow of the Academia Europea. In 1993 he was made a fellow of UCL and in the 1998 Queen's Birthday Honours
Queen's Birthday Honours
The Queen's Birthday Honours is a part of the British honours system, being a civic occasion on the celebration of the Queen's Official Birthday in which new members of most Commonwealth Realms honours are named. The awards are presented by the reigning monarch or head of state, currently Queen...
was knighted
Knight Bachelor
The rank of Knight Bachelor is a part of the British honours system. It is the most basic rank of a man who has been knighted by the monarch but not as a member of one of the organised Orders of Chivalry...
, served as a founding member 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....
and was made an honorary fellow of the Royal College of Pathologists
Royal College of Pathologists
The Royal College of Pathologists, founded in 1962, was established to co-ordinate this development and maintain the internationally renowned standards and reputation of British pathology. Today the College advises on a vast range of issues relating to pathology...
. In 2006 it was announced that Sir Philip Cohen would be taking over as president of the Biochemical Society
Biochemical Society
The Biochemical Society is a learned society in the United Kingdom in the field of biochemistry, including all the cellular and molecular biosciences.-Structure:...
. He is currently a director of the Division of Signal Transduction Therapy
Division of Signal Transduction Therapy
The Division of Signal Transduction Therapy or DSTT is an organization managed by the University of Dundee and pharmaceutical companies including AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, GlaxoSmithKline, Merck Serono and Pfizer. The purpose of the collaboration is to do general cell signaling research...
.
Awards and recognition
He has received many awards for his work, including the 1992 Prix van Gysel of the Belgian Royal Academies of Medicine, a Special Achievement Award at the 1996 Miami Biotechnology Winter Symposium, the Louis-Jeantet Prize for MedicineLouis-Jeantet Prize for Medicine
The Louis-Jeantet Prize for Medicine is awarded annually by the Louis-Jeantet Foundation to biomedical researchers in Europe; the awards are made each April...
in 1997, the Datta Medal of the Federation of European Biochemical Societies
Federation of European Biochemical Societies
The Federation of the European Biochemical Societies, frequently abbreviated FEBS is an international scientific society promoting activities in biochemistry, molecular biology and molecular biophysics in Europe...
the same year and a Royal Medal
Royal Medal
The Royal Medal, also known as The Queen's Medal, is a silver-gilt medal awarded each year by the Royal Society, two for "the most important contributions to the advancement of natural knowledge" and one for "distinguished contributions in the applied sciences" made within the Commonwealth of...
in 2008 for "his major contribution to our understanding of the role of protein phosphorylation in cell regulation". He has also been given honorary DSc degrees from the universities of Abertay
University of Abertay Dundee
The University of Abertay Dundee, usually known simply as Abertay University, is a modern university in Dundee, Scotland.- History :The University of Abertay Dundee was created in 1994, under government legislation granting the title University to the Dundee Institute of Technology...
, Strathclyde
University of Strathclyde
The University of Strathclyde , Glasgow, Scotland, is Glasgow's second university by age, founded in 1796, and receiving its Royal Charter in 1964 as the UK's first technological university...
, Linköping
Linköping University
Linköping University is a state university in Linköping, Sweden. Linköping University was granted full university status in 1975 and is now one of Sweden's larger academic institutions. Education, research and PhD training are the mission of four faculties: Arts and Sciences, Educational...
and Debrecen
University of Debrecen
The University of Debrecen is a university located in Debrecen, Hungary. It is the oldest continuously operating institution of higher education in Hungary .-History:...
. He is now in the National Academy of Sciences.