Prof. Dr. Ian Wilmut (✝︎)
- Section Veterinary Medicine
- Location Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- Election year 2005
Research
Research Priorities: Genetic engineering, embryology, cryopreservation, agricultural science
Ian Wilmut is best known as the leader of the research group that in 1996 first cloned a mammal from an adult somatic cell. His work as an embryologist has paved the way for the production of pharmacological proteins using genetic engineering and cloning and helped to enable animal organ transplants in humans.
Ian Wilmut’s research priorities comprise, in particular, cell biology, genetics, organism cloning, and andrology, which deals with the male reproductive system and health problems specific to it. He has focused on diverse areas of cell biology, such as the cell cycle and embryonic stem cells, in which he concentrates on issues relating to somatic cells and molecular biology. His research in the field of andrology includes aspects relating to pregnancy, endrocrinology, anatomy, and internal medicine.
Ian Wilmut has written pivotal studies on the genetics and reproductive biology of sheep, the development of transgenic sheep to obtain proteins from their milk with therapeutic value for humans, embryonic stem cells, and the principles of cloning technology. Dolly the cloned sheep – the result of cloning by transferring a cell nucleus from the udder of an adult sheep – brought him global fame, as the first successful example of non-sexual reproduction involving an adult mammal.
Ian Wilmut is best known as the leader of the research group that in 1996 first cloned a mammal from an adult somatic cell. His work as an embryologist has paved the way for the production of pharmacological proteins using genetic engineering and cloning and helped to enable animal organ transplants in humans.
Ian Wilmut’s research priorities comprise, in particular, cell biology, genetics, organism cloning, and andrology, which deals with the male reproductive system and health problems specific to it. He has focused on diverse areas of cell biology, such as the cell cycle and embryonic stem cells, in which he concentrates on issues relating to somatic cells and molecular biology. His research in the field of andrology includes aspects relating to pregnancy, endrocrinology, anatomy, and internal medicine.
Ian Wilmut has written pivotal studies on the genetics and reproductive biology of sheep, the development of transgenic sheep to obtain proteins from their milk with therapeutic value for humans, embryonic stem cells, and the principles of cloning technology. Dolly the cloned sheep – the result of cloning by transferring a cell nucleus from the udder of an adult sheep – brought him global fame, as the first successful example of non-sexual reproduction involving an adult mammal.
Career
- -2023 Professor Emeritus
- 2006-2011 Founding Director, MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- 2005-2006 Professor of Reproductive Science, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- 2000-2005 Head, Department for Gene Expression and Development, Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- 1973-2005 Principal Investigator, Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- 1971-1973 Postdoctoral Fellow, ARC Unit of Reproductive Physiology and Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- 1967-1971 Doctorate, Darwin College, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- 1967 Bachelor of Science, Agricultural Studies, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
Honours and Memberships
- 2011 Pioneer Award, International Embryo Technology Society, Champaign, USA
- 2008 Shaw Prize in Life Science and Medicine, Shaw Prize Foundation, Hong Kong, China
- since 2005 Member, German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina, Germany
- 2005 Paul Ehrlich and Ludwig Darmstaedter Prize, Paul Ehrlich Foundation, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- since 2004 International Member, National Academy of Sciences, USA
- since 2003 Member, European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO), Heidelberg, Germany
- since 2002 Fellow, The Royal Society, UK
- 2002 Ernst Schering Prize, Schering Foundation, Berlin, Germany
- since 2000 Fellow, Royal Society of Edinburgh, UK
- since 1999 Elected Fellow, Academy of Medical Sciences, London, UK
- 1998 Lord Lloyd of Kilgerran Award, The Foundation of Science and Technology, London, UK
- 1998 Golden Plate Award, American Academy of Achievement, Washington, USA