SCIENCE FOUNDATION Ireland (SFI) has chosen a University of Manchester research academic to become its next director general. Prof Mark Ferguson begins his five-year tenure on January 16th next.
A native of Northern Ireland and a graduate of Queen’s University Belfast, Prof Ferguson is leaving his post as professor of life sciences in Manchester after 30 years there.
He is also an entrepreneur as co-founder of biotechnology spin-out company Renovo, which is involved in developing pharmaceutical therapies to prevent scarring and accelerate wound healing.
The foundation board announced the appointment yesterday afternoon.
It has taken about a year to find a full-time replacement after the departure of Dr Frank Gannon as director general at the end of 2010.
As an international hunt for a suitable permanent replacement got under way, the former head of Forfás, John Travers, and the foundation’s director of policy, Dr Graham Love, successively headed the organisation as director general. Dr Love now returns to his position within the foundation as director of policy.
Minister of State for Research Seán Sherlock welcomed the appointment given Prof Ferguson’s “scientific research capacity and extensive commercialisation experience”.
“His wealth of experience in the life sciences, biotechnology and enterprise arenas make him an ideal figure to lead such a pivotal organisation as SFI and forge even closer ties between Irish-based researchers and industry,” Mr Sherlock said yesterday.
“Prof Ferguson’s track record over the past three decades has been one of continued excellence in both the academic and commercial spheres and his arrival marks the start of a new stage in SFI’s journey,” said the foundation’s chairman, Prof Pat Fottrell.
Prof Ferguson’s blend of academic and commercial experience was seen as an ideal mix.
The Government has put a particular emphasis on getting a commercial return on the State investment in research and development, something that is working down through all of the State agencies involved in research.
This theme is evident in Prof Ferguson’s reaction to his appointment. “I am passionate about science, its commercial exploitation and its societal and economic benefits,” Prof Ferguson said.
He said he relished the opportunity to work with the research community and with commercial partners to improve the quality of Ireland’s research output.
Prof Ferguson is the author of 325 research papers and holds patents on research findings. Aside from involvement in Renovo, Prof Ferguson also founded the Manchester Biosciences Incubator, which supports start-up companies.
He holds fellowships from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland and the Royal College of Surgeons in Edinburgh. He is a founding fellow of the UK Academy of Medical Sciences.
He was made a CBE in 1999 for services to health and life sciences.