The BSID Medal for Contributions to Dermatological Research in 2024 is awarded to Prof. Eugene Healy!
Eugene is Professor of Dermatology and Department Chair in the University of Southampton and Honorary Consultant Dermatologist in University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust. He graduated in medicine from Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland and undertook his general medical and early dermatology training in Dublin. He subsequently moved to the UK and conducted his PhD as a Medical Research Council (MRC) Clinical Training Fellow (1994-1997) in Newcastle upon Tyne. He continued his academic training as an MRC Clinician Scientist Fellow (1997-2001) in the MRC Human Genetics Unit in Edinburgh (1997-1999) and in the University of Southampton (1999-2001). He was the first Dermatologist ever to be awarded an MRC Senior Clinical Fellowship (2001-2006) which he undertook in Southampton, where he became Professor of Molecular Dermatology in 2002 and Professor of Dermatology and Head of Department in 2007.
Clinically, he leads the regional skin lymphoma service, and the service for patients with severe/complex psoriasis, as well as undertaking general dermatology clinics and in-patient care in Southampton. His research interests have included pigmentation, UV responses, skin cancer, genodermatoses, inflammatory skin diseases, skin biology, and more recently artificial intelligence, and his research has been published in a variety of high impact journals (Lancet, BMJ, Nat Genet, Immunity, Nat Immunol, Nat Commun, PNAS, J Allergy Clin Immunol, Clin Cancer Res, J Am Acad Dermatol, etc.), with publications in 4* journals in each of five successive decades (1980s, 1990s, 2000s, 2010s and 2020s). His research has been funded by MRC, Wellcome Trust, EPSRC, BBSRC, NIHR, medical charities and industry, and he has given numerous invited lectures on his research within the UK and abroad (Europe, North America, Asia, Australasia).
His professional roles have included Chair of the British Society for Investigative Dermatology (2003-2006), President of the European Society for Dermatological Research, Board member of the European Society for Pigment Cell Research, Member of the Medical Research Council College of Experts, Expert Adviser to NICE Centre for Guidelines (and topic advisor and/or expert member on several NICE guideline committees and/or health technology evaluation/appraisal committees), Chair of the UK Translational Research Network in Dermatology, and he has served on editorial boards of various journals (J Invest Dermatol, Br J Dermatol, Exp Dermatol, etc.).
His educational roles have included Training Programme Director for Wessex Dermatology, Director of Clinical Academic Training (for all specialties) in Wessex, Member of the NIHR Integrated Academic Training Operational Advisory Group, Member of the MRCP(UK) Part 1 Examining Board, Member of the Question Writing Group for the MRCP Derm examination, Member of the Standard Setting Group for MRCP Derm, and Member of the MRCP Derm Examining Board.
The 2024 BSID Medal ceremony will be held during the BSID Annual Dinner in Southampton on Monday 15th April 2024. The citation will be given by Prof Veronica Kinsler