Sir Leszek K Borysiewicz

Professor Sir Leszek Borysiewicz joined Imperial College London in 2001 as Principal of the Faculty of Medicine before becoming Deputy Rector in 2004.

He studied Medicine at the Welsh National School of Medicine before beginning a career in academic clinical medicine that has spanned positions at hospitals in London, Cambridge, Gambia and Wales. He received his PhD from the Royal Postgraduate Medical School, now merged with Imperial College London, and took his first Consultant’s post at Hammersmith Hospital.

Sir Leszek’s research interests lie in viral immunology, infectious diseases, cell mediated immunity, virus associated malignancy and vaccine development. He was knighted in 2001 for his research into developing vaccines, including one to prevent the development of cervical cancer.

As Deputy Rector of Imperial College London, he has responsibility for the overall academic and scientific direction of the College, and particularly the development of interdisciplinary research between engineering, natural sciences and medicine. This has included the establishment of programmes including the Gates Foundation-funded Schistosomiasis Control Initiative, and the construction of a new clinical imaging facility in partnership with GlaxoSmithKline plc and the UK Medical Research Council.

In addition to his role at Imperial, Sir Leszek holds a number of appointments in the fields of higher education and science. He was recently made a Governor of the Wellcome Trust, and is Chairman of HEFCE’s main Clinical Medicine panel for RAE 2008.

He is also the Chairman of the UK Clinical Research Collaboration Integrated Academic Training committee and the Joint Chairman of the MRC/UK Stem Cell Foundation Scientific Advisory Board.

Before coming to Imperial, Sir Leszek was Professor of Medicine and Head of the Department of Medicine at the University of Wales. He has authored reports for the World Health Organisation, Medical Research Council and the Department of Health, as well as chairing the Department of Health research advisory committee collating research on CJD, the human form of mad cow disease. He is a Founder Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences.