One of the UK's top bone health specialists - and Emeritus Professor of Rheumatology at the University of Aberdeen - has been recognised for his commitment to osteoporosis and his work with the Royal Osteoporosis Society (ROS) in the New Year's Honours.
Professor David Reid - who was Head of the School of Medicine & Dentistry at the University until he retired five years ago - has been awarded an MBE from the Queen.
The honour is for his long-term support for the ROS where he has held many roles including Chair of the Board of the Trustees and most recently Senior Medical Advisor and Fundraising Ambassador to the ROS Osteoporosis and Bone Research Academy.
ROS Chief Executive Officer Craig Jones said: “David has been and continues to be a tireless supporter of our charity and has made a substantial contribution to advances in the treatment and care of people living with osteoporosis. We are proud and delighted that his efforts have been recognised with an MBE in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours list.”
Professor Reid was appointed to a Clinical Senior Lecturer post at the University of Aberdeen in 1996 moving from a consultant Rheumatology post at the then Grampian Heath Board.
He was promoted to Professor of Rheumatology at the University in 1999, later becoming Head of Department of Medicine and Therapeutics in 2004, then Head of Division of Applied Medicine in 2008, and from 2011 he was Head of Schools of Medicine and Dentistry until retiring in July 2015.
During his 19 years with the University, Professor Reid’s research mainly focused on osteoporosis looking at ways of assessing bone density screening for osteoporosis, as well as nutrition and bone, steroid effects on bone and the genetics of osteoporosis.
Professor Reid said: “After my initial research training at the University of Edinburgh, much of my work in Aberdeen was undertaken with a wonderful team of research nurses, radiographers, research nutritionists, scientific collaborators and clinical research fellows. Over the years we were fortunate to be awarded research funding worth of over £15 million from various research bodies, Government, charities and commercial companies.
"Much of our local support came from the Grampian Osteoporosis Trust which helped support a clinical service for osteoporosis in Grampian, funded a programme of education and research kick-started by a fundraiser for two DEXA scanners in Grampian.
“The fabulous generosity of the people of the North East of Scotland, together with the amazing clinical and laboratory research opportunities that we have in Aberdeen with the unique Foresterhill campus allowing close working between the University and NHS Grampian – has led to the North East of Scotland becoming one of the foremost osteoporosis centres in the UK. I am personally very grateful for the support of so many which has culminated in this award – it really is an honour.
“I have also greatly enjoyed working with the Royal Osteoporosis Society, which has made such a significant difference in the field of osteoporosis research, care, and treatment and I look forward to my contouring working with them on their Research Roadmap towards a cure for osteoporosis.”