Two Dundee academics elected Fellows of the RSE

Two University of Dundee academics are among the newest Fellows elected to the Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE).

The RSE, Scotland’s National Academy, elects Fellows in recognition of their impact in improving the world around them.

Nominated for their individual excellence in their respective fields of medicine and life sciences Professor Chim Lang and Professor Ian Ganley are among a cohort of new Fellows of the RSE. 

Professor Lang is a consultant cardiologist and clinical pharmacologist and Professor of Cardiology at the University’s School of Medicine.

Having trained in both cardiology and clinical pharmacology, Professor Lang leads an integrated cardiovascular research laboratory dedicated and equipped to the study of cardiac and vasomotor regulation.

His research takes a multi-disciplinary approach to the understanding of the pathophysiology and pharmacogenetics of cardiovascular diseases and to the development of treatment strategies in patients with cardiovascular diseases.

Professor Lang has published close to 400 papers in major journals, including the New England Journal of Medicine, Lancet, Annals of Internal Medicine, Circulation, European Heart Journal and JACC.

Professor Ganley leads the Ganley Lab, at the University’s MRC Protein Phosphorylation and Ubiquitylation Unit (MRC PPU), part of the School of Life Sciences.

His work focuses on mitochondria – essential for cell maintenance.

Accumulation of dysfunctional mitochondria has been linked to many diseases including cancer, diabetes and neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson’s disease.

Under normal circumstances our cells use a recycling pathway termed mitophagy to turnover such damaged mitochondria.

Professor Ganley’s work focuses on fully understanding how decisions are made by the cell to target functionally different pools of mitochondria.

Professor Lisanne Gibson, the University’s Vice Principal of Research, said, “Congratulations to Chim and Ian on their election as Fellows to the Royal Society of Edinburgh. This is a well deserved recognition for their world-leading work over the years in their fields of research.

“These prestigious awards are a recognition of the quality of research from the Schools of Medicine and Life Sciences at the University of Dundee which drives change throughout the world.”