Knighthood for University Principal
Published On Sat 13 Jun 2015 by Roddy Isles
Professor Pete Downes, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Dundee, has been knighted in the Queen’s Birthday Honours.
Professor Downes has been honoured in recognition of his achievements in higher education and life sciences.
“I truly feel this is an award for the whole of the University of Dundee as much as for myself,” said Professor Downes.
“I am immensely proud to have been a member of the University of Dundee community for over 25 years, since I arrived here in 1989, and feel extremely privileged to lead the University. I have seen many great things happen here and I am sure we will see many more in future.”
Professor Downes has led the University of Dundee since 2009, developing a new vision for the institution, to transform lives locally and globally, and positioning it as a lynchpin of the social, cultural and economic development of the Dundee city region.
One of the UK’s most distinguished and cited bioscientists, Professor Downes identified the role of the drug Lithium in treating manic depression and has played a key role developing our understanding of intercellular communication through hormone and growth factors. In particular, he discovered a biochemical pathway that is the most common source of mutations leading to human cancers.
He pioneered, alongside Professor Sir Philip Cohen, a unique collaboration, the Division of Signal Transduction Therapy, which has seen the University work with the world’s major pharmaceutical companies, resulting in breakthroughs in the treatment of cancer, diabetes and other diseases and attracting over £50million of investment to Dundee.
Prior to being appointed Principal he was Head of the College of Life Sciences, helping establish it as a world-renowned centre of excellence. Dundee was ranked the number one university in the UK for biological sciences research in the Research Excellence Framework 2014, the main assessment of research quality.
In his time as Principal, the University of Dundee has been voted the best in Scotland for student experience for six consecutive years. Professor Downes has also led Dundee’s commitment to widening participation in higher education, with places provided for an extra 300 students from Scotland’s most deprived areas.
He has been Convener of Universities Scotland since 2012 and has contributed extensively to the work of Universities UK on Scotland’s behalf, serving on its board and executive committee.
He was awarded the OBE in 2004.
Nicola Dandridge, Chief Executive of Universities UK, said, “This award is well deserved. Professor Downes has made an enormous contribution to higher education, both as one of the UK's leading scientists and as a university leader. He has worked tirelessly in his role as Principal of the University of Dundee and as Convener of Universities Scotland, during what has been a relatively turbulent period for the higher education sector. I am delighted that his hard work has been recognised in this way.”
Alastair Sim, Director of Universities Scotland, said, “Professor Downes has contributed his commitment and leadership to the whole of Scotland’s university sector. As Convener of Universities Scotland, he has worked hard to maintain the excellence, autonomy and diversity of Scotland’s higher education institutions during an exceptionally intense period of political interest. He has also made a distinctive and crucial contribution to creating policy to ensure that universities and businesses are working effectively together to promote our nation’s prosperity.’
Sir David Carter, Chair of the Board of Academic Medicine, said, “Professor Pete Downes is an outstanding scientist who has made an immense and highly significant contribution to biomedical research as well as providing inspired leadership for the University of Dundee and the Higher Education Sector in Scotland. His knighthood is fitting recognition and thoroughly well deserved - it will bring immense pleasure to all who know him and have worked with him.”
Eric Sanderson, Chair of the University of Dundee Court, said, “I am absolutely delighted by the award of a knighthood to Pete Downes. This recognises both the considerable achievements of the University of Dundee and Pete’s significant personal contribution to the University sector as a whole.”
Roddy Isles
Head of Press
TEL: 01382 384910
MOBILE: 07800 581902
E-MAIL: r.isles@dundee.ac.uk