Citizenship United Kingdom Awards Robert Koch Prize Fields Virology | Name John Skehel Nationality United Kingdom | |
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Institutions National Institute for Medical Research Alma mater University of Aberystwyth
University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology Known for research into the influenza virus Notable awards Wilhelm Feldberg Prize (1986)
Robert Koch Prize (1987)
Louis-Jeantet Prize for Medicine (1988)
Royal Medal (2003) Education University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology, Aberystwyth University | ||
Sir John James Skehel (born 27 February 1941) FRS FMedSci is a British virologist and Emeritus scientist at the Francis Crick Institute in London. From 1987 to 2006 he was Director of the National Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) at Mill Hill which was incorporated into the Crick Institute in 2016.
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Education and early life
Skehel was born in Blackburn to Joseph and Annie Skehel in 1941, and was educated at St. Mary's College, Blackburn before entering the University of Aberystwyth to study for a Bachelor of Science degree in agricultural biochemistry.
He completed his postgraduate study at the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST), completing his PhD in biochemistry in 1966, for research on cation transport in yeast.
Career and research
Following his PhD, he was a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Aberdeen for research, continuing it at Duke University.
In 1969 he returned to Britain and began work at the National Institute for Medical Research on the influenza virus. In 1984 he was made head of the virology division, followed by a promotion in 1987 to director of the Institute. He was director of the World Health Organisation (WHO)'s Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza from 1975 to 1993.
Awards and honours
He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS) in 1984. He was awarded the Wilhelm Feldberg Prize in 1986, the Robert Koch Prize in 1987, the Louis Jeantet Prix de Medecin in 1988, the ICN International Prize in Virology in 1992, knighted in 1996 and awarded the Royal Medal in 2003 for "his pioneering research into virology". In 1998, he became a founding Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences. In November 2013, he was appointed Vice-President and Biological Secretary of the Royal Society. He was made an honorary professor of Liverpool John Moores University in 1993 and given an honorary degree in 2007. In 2004 he was also given an honorary degree from University College London.
Skehel was appointed Knight Bachelor in the 1997 New Year Honours.
Personal life
Soon after graduating he married Anita Varley in 1962, with whom he has two sons.