PHOTO OPPORTUNITY: Monday, June 19, at the Linklater Rooms, King’s College Campus, University of Aberdeen, at 4.30pm
The founder of a major global company that helped to develop the world’s top 30 best-selling medicines will visit Scotland later this month to deliver a keynote speech at the University of Aberdeen.
Dr Dennis Gillings, Chairman and Chief Executive of US-based company Quintiles, will travel from North Carolina to the North-east of Scotland, on Monday, June 19, where he will address members of the University and delegates from the region’s business, medical, and technology sectors. Dr Gillings will deliver a presentation on: “Business Practices and Economics: The Medical Frontier for the 21st Century.”
London-born Dr Gillings, CBE, is a renowned academic and businessman whose company helps improve healthcare worldwide by providing a huge range of professional services to the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries. He was listed as one of the ‘Top 100 Most Inspiring People in Life Sciences’ by leading pharmaceutical journal, PharmaVoice, in 2005. He also serves on several boards and councils including the Scottish Enterprise Advisory Board.
Since its establishment in 1982, Dr Gillings has built Quintiles into the global corporation it is today with 20,000 employees and offices in 50 countries.
During his visit to Aberdeen on June 19, he will meet with key University representatives including Professor Michael Hughes, Head of the Business School, and Professor Bryan MacGregor, Head of the College of Arts and Social Sciences. He will also meet with Professor Stephen Logan, Senior Vice-Principal and Professor Neva Haites, Vice-Principal and Head of the College of Life Sciences and Medicine.
Professor Michael Hughes, who secured the visit to Aberdeen by Dr Gillings, said: “Dr Gillings is a world renowned scholar and a talented business professional who has built Quintiles into the hugely successful pharma services company that it is today.
“He is one of the world’s most influential figures in drug development and his visit is very much anticipated. He has set the pace of competition in one of the world’s most demanding industries and we are delighted that he is able to join us in Aberdeen for what is sure to be a memorable occasion for all involved.”
Dr Gillings visit to Aberdeen was generated by his interest in collaborative research projects, particularly between business and medical schools that have innovative programmes for research and healthcare delivery. The University of Aberdeen is one of the major research universities in Scotland with more than 700 researchers working on biomedical research. Colleagues from the University’s business and medicine sectors have forged strong and valuable links to form a number of joint initiatives such as the Health Economics Research Unit (HERU) and the Health Services Research Unit (HSRU).
The University’s Colleges of Arts and Social Sciences and Life Sciences and Medicine have worked in partnership to develop a varied programme of visits on June 19 to showcase the Colleges’ mutual expertise. During his one-day visit, Dr Gillings will meet with Professor Phil Hannaford, Chair of Primary Care and Director of the Institute of Applied Health Sciences. Dr Gillings will also meet with Professor Bob Elliot, Director of HERU; Professor Adrian Grant, Director of HSRU; and Mr Luke Vale, Senior Research Fellow in both HERU/HSRU.
Professor Haites, Vice-Principal and Head of the College of Life Sciences and Medicine, said she was looking forward to welcoming Dr Gillings to Aberdeen where he will meet with scientists who are trying to find new and better treatments and cures for a wide range of conditions. She said: “The University of Aberdeen is an acknowledged centre of excellence for Life Sciences and Medicine and is recognised internationally as such for our research in a great number of areas.
“Dr Gillings is highly respected for his ground-breaking work in drug development and, with 30 years’ experience in the industry, he has provided expert consultation to a range of companies and health organisations, including the National Cancer Institute in the US. His company operates in the ever-expanding world of drug development and conducts the all-important clinical trials, which can lead to the development of vital drugs for diseases, such as cancer.”
Dr Gillings is a published author with numerous books and reports to his name. His lecture, on Monday, June 19, is open to all members of the University and will be held in the Linklater Rooms, University of Aberdeen, at 5.00pm.
Further information on the University of Aberdeen is available by visiting the website at: www.abdn.ac.uk