News

Chief Executive Officer, British Pharmacological Society

07 February 2012

Kate Baillie, the current Chief Executive will be leaving the Society in June to take up the position of Chief Executive of the Biochemical Society.

During Kate’s period in post, the BPS has restructured its office team to widen the range of services available to our members and other stakeholders in the fields of education, scientific meetings, publications and communications. With the Department of Health and the Medical Schools Council, BPS has spearheaded the development of Prescribe and the Prescribing Skills Assessment. BPS has also brought the publishing of its two scientific journals under a single publisher and has formed close links and developed joint activities with a wide range of other Societies, both national and international.

We are now seeking to appoint an inspirational leader to take the Society into its next phase of development. The ideal candidate will have an enthusiasm for biosciences and an understanding of the importance of pharmacology. The successful applicant will have a track record of leadership and management in a senior role and the skills to promote BPS externally to a wide variety of stakeholders in the UK and overseas.

Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell appointed to advise Prime Minister

07 February 2012

Congratulations to BPS member Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell, who has been appointed as the new co-chair of the Council for Science and Technology.

AstraZeneca announce 7300 job cuts

02 February 2012

AstraZeneca's 7,300 job cuts will happen over the next two years as part of a new restructuring programme to save $1.6bn (£1bn) a year. It is the third restructuring programme the company has carried out since 2007. AstraZeneca cut 12,600 positions between 2007 and 2009.

If you're currently working at AZ and want to see how BPS can help you, email info@bps.ac.uk.

Nursing Home Residents with Dementia: Antidepressants Are Associated With Increased Risk of Falling

18 January 2012

BJCP press release

Nursing Home Residents with Dementia: Antidepressants Are Associated With Increased Risk of Falling
Nursing home residents with dementia who use average doses of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are three times more likely to have an injurious fall than similar people who don’t use these drugs. The association can be seen in people who use low doses of SSRIs and the risk increases as people take higher doses. The results are published in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology.

Press release

Press coverage

BBC
Health on the Net Foundation
Rocket News
Australasian Science

A message from BPS President and President-Elect

12 January 2012

It is with regret that one of our first duties as President and President-Elect must be to announce that our Chief Executive, Kate Baillie will be leaving the Society later this year.

Kate has accepted the position of Chief Executive of the Biochemical Society, and her last day at BPS will be 1 June 2012.

Kate's departure will be a great loss to the BPS. I'm also sure that you will join us in congratulating her on her new role, and we wish her every success in her future career.

We are already discussing plans to recruit Kate's successor, and will put in place interim arrangements if necessary, to ensure that the transition occurs with minimum disruption to BPS activities. We will be keeping members up to date with developments, and look forward to confirming a new Chief Executive of our Society in the coming months.

BPS President Emeritus appointed Vice-Chancellor of Brunel University

09 January 2012

The Council of Brunel University has announced the appointment of Professor Julia Buckingham, BPS President Emeritus, as its next Vice-Chancellor and Principal. Professor Buckingham, currently Pro-Rector for Education and Academic Affairs at Imperial College London, will assume duties from the current Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Professor Chris Jenks, on 1 October 2012.

Professor Buckingham is the first woman to be appointed as Vice-Chancellor and Principal at Brunel. Prior to her career at Imperial College London, where she has held the posts of Professor of Pharmacology, Head of the Division of Neuroscience and Mental Health and College Dean for Non-Clinical Medicine, Professor Buckingham was employed at Charing Cross and Westminster Medical School, University of London, as Professor of Pharmacology, Head of the Department of Pharmacology and Assistant Dean (Preclinical). Professor Buckingham is currently President of the Society for Endocrinology and a Trustee of the Royal Institution and the Society of Biology.

New Year honour for BPS member

04 January 2012

Congratulations to BPS member, Professor Trevor William Robbins FRS, who has been made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for services to Medical Research.

Other notable recipients include: Dr Richard William Barker, Professor Stephen Robert Bloom, Dr Eleanor Anne Freeman, Professor John Gerald Patrick Sissons, Professor James George Steele, and Professor John Wallwork.

New Years honours

Health of drugs industry still in question

22 December 2011

BPS member Andrew Herxheimer contributes to an article, published in The Epoch Times, on the state of the Pharmaceutical industry, Health of drugs industry still in question.

Epoch Times article

BPS symposium speakers interviewed for Radio 4's Report programme

22 December 2011

Interviews and excerpts from the President’s mini-symposium, which took place at the BPS Winter Meeting 2011, will form part of tonight’s (22 December) Report programme on BBC Radio 4 at 8pm.

Programme details

Professor Humphrey Rang, FRS, becomes President-Elect of BPS

20 December 2011

London 15 December 2011:
Professor Humphrey Rang was confirmed as the British Pharmacological Society’s (BPS) President-Elect during its Annual General Meeting on 15 December 2011. Professor Rang will take up his post from 1 January 2012, and go on to become the Society’s President for two years from 2014.

A Fellow of the Royal Society and the Academy of Medical Sciences, and an Honorary fellow of the BPS, Professor Rang is also author of two seminal books on the science of drug discovery and development, including Pharmacology (1987 – now in its 7th edition) and Drug Discovery (2006 – Winner of the RSM book prize, 2007).

Professor Ray Hill, President of the BPS said:

“It is a reflection of the strength of our Society that we were able to attract a candidate of such scientific eminence."

The ballot, which was overseen by the Electoral Reform Society, saw a huge increase in the number of BPS members casting their votes.

Professor Hill again:

“It is particularly pleasing that this year’s ballot saw an all-time record number of votes cast – 692 in total. I’m grateful to all of our members who, by voting, have engaged in the democratic process and helped shape the future direction of the Society."

Two further posts were ratified at the same meeting: Dr Robin Hiley will take over from Professor Danny McQueen as the Society’s Honorary Treasurer, and Professor David Webb will assume the role of Vice President, Meetings.

Professor Phil Routledge will start his two year term as President of the BPS on 1 January 2012.