Scotland appoints Chief Scientist

Professor Andrew Morris of the University of Dundee has been appointed the new Chief Scientist for Scotland. A co-Director of the Medical Research Institute at the University of Dundee and an internationally renowned expert in diabetes and health informatics, Professor Morris succeeds Professor Sir John Savill.

Professor Sir Harry Burns, Chief Medical Officer said; “We are delighted to be able to appoint a researcher of Professor Morris's calibre to the post of Chief Scientist, where he will provide strategic leadership to the Life Sciences research community in Scotland. His particular area of expertise of Health Informatics is a growing area of interest both in Scotland and the wider UK and his appointment will further strengthen our position in this, and other clinical areas.”

Professor Morris said; “I am delighted and honoured to be joining the Chief Scientist Office at the Scottish Government, and look forward to working with colleagues to take forward the important agenda of health research. There are great opportunities to translate our outstanding NHS and University research capabilities into improved patient care and economic growth across Scotland.”

Professor Morris leads a research team at Dundee that uses informatics to improve the quality of care, and the study of the epidemiology and genetics of diabetes and its complications.

He was awarded the RD Lawrence Award by Diabetes UK in 2003, the Saltire Society Scottish Science Award in 2005 and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, Scotland’s national academy of science and letters, Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences.

In 2007 he co-founded Aridhia Informatics, a health care informatics company employing 50 people in Edinburgh and Dundee which is exporting Scottish know how to the United Kingdom, Middle East and Australasia.