Dr. Stephen Simpson Appointed Director of Life Sciences, SFI

Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) has appointed Dr. Stephen Simpson –an expert in the areas of biomedicine, immunology, human genetics, molecular cell biology, cancer and HIV– to the position of Director of Life Sciences.

Simpson will play a key role in contributing to building Ireland as a centre of excellence for Life Sciences research, promoting academic-industrial partnerships, and the encouragement of an excellence driven science culture, says SFI.

Simpson will have responsibility for the SFI’s Life Science research investments in line with the goals and targets set down in the Government’s Strategy for Science Technology and Innovation (SSTI) 2006-2013 (PDF).

Commenting on the appointment, Prof. Frank Gannon, Director General of SFI stated “SFI is delighted to have someone of Dr. Simpson’s track record, capability and experience joining the organisation.

Dr Simpson will be a significant asset to SFI in terms of promoting Ireland’s potential within the immediate Life Sciences sector, he will greatly increase SFI’s capacity to engage with the Life Science community in Ireland and internationally”.

Simpson has been a Senior Editor at the internationally-renowned “Science” journal since 2005.

Simpson has a PhD in Immunology from the National Institute for Medical Research, Mill Hill, London and was a researcher from 1992-1997 at Harvard Medical School. He was awarded Young Investigator of the Year by the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America in 1995.

Simpson will formally take up the position on 31st July 2008.

It would be interesting to find out what vision this man has for the future of Irish life science research.