Honorary Fellowship for medical pioneer

An Honorary Fellowship from the University of Wales Trinity Saint David has been awarded to Professor Christopher Wood, a pioneer of the development of new medicines for the treatment of cancer, arthritis, diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease.

Born in Cardiff, Professor Wood spent his school and college years in Wales. He began his professional career as a surgeon and specialised in cancer surgery. He qualified from the Welsh National School of Medicine in Cardiff and has an MD degree from the University of Wales. He was also a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh and became a consultant surgeon at the Royal Postgraduate Medical School in London. He was appointed honorary Professor at Imperial College, London, in 2008.

During his career, Professor Wood published extensively on surgical and cancer-related topics. In recent years, he has focused on the development of new medicines and in 2004 received approval for the first new drug in thirty years for the treatment of childhood leukaemia. He is currently engaged in the clinical development of new medicines for the treatment of cancer, arthritis, diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease.

In addition to his love of medicine, Professor Wood’s other passion is music. He is a keen composer and is a strong supporter of the arts, with a special emphasis on choral music and encouraging young talented musicians. He is also chairman of the Council of Trustees for the Royal College of Organists.

Upon receiving his Fellowship, Professor Wood said: “I thank the University for the privilege of being able to accept the honour that has been bestowed upon me. I am bemused that I should be honoured for doing something that I have thoroughly enjoyed every single day of my life.

“There is no substitute for being able to bring joy into the life of someone who is suffering from cancer, to give them the news that they have responded to treatment and that they are doing well.

“I was very fortunate in being able to develop the first new drug for childhood leukaemia in over thirty years. That drug became approved in Europe through studies that were done here in Wales.”