Ferguson named SFI director general

The board of Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) has appointed Prof Mark Ferguson as director general for a five-year term. He will take up the position on 16 January.

Born in Northern Ireland, Prof Ferguson is a graduate of Queens University of Belfast with degrees in Dentistry, Anatomy and Embryology, and Medical Sciences. He holds Fellowships from the Royal Colleges of Surgeons in Ireland and Edinburgh and is a Founding Fellow of the UK Academy of Medical Sciences.

Prof Mark Ferguson was appointed professor in Life Sciences at the University of Manchester in 1984, at the age of 28. He is current Honorary Professor of Life Sciences at the University. His research interests include cellular and molecular mechanisms in scarring and wound healing, developmental mechanisms in normal and cleft palate formation, alligator and crocodile biology. He is the discoverer of scar free embryonic wound healing and temperature-dependent sex determination in alligators and crocodiles.

Prof Ferguson is also a co-founder of Renovo, a biotechnology company developing pharmaceutical therapies to prevent scarring and accelerate wound healing.

Commenting on his appointment, Prof Ferguson said: "We live in exciting times for science, where endeavour and ingenuity are making a notable impact on the world around us. Through determination, sustained investment and the convergence of expertise across scientific, engineering and commercial disciplines, Ireland has leaped up the international rankings for its quality of research output. I am relishing the opportunity of working closely with SFI’s board, staff, esteemed research community, commercial and other partners, to help continue this level of progress and influence. I am passionate about science, its commercial exploitation and its societal and economic benefits."

TechCentral Reporters

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