Sir Ravinder Maini visits BSMS

Sir Ravinder Maini with Professor Jon Cohen

Leading rheumatologist Sir Ravinder Maini visits BSMS

The distinguished international scientist Sir Ravinder Maini FRS, Emeritus Professor of Rheumatology, Imperial College, London, visited BSMS in February as the 2010 BSMS Visiting Professor.

Sir Ravinder Maini’s work with fellow researcher Professor Marc Feldmann led to the development of a new treatment for rheumatoid arthritis, through the development of TNF (tumour necrosis factor) inhibitors. These drugs now help many thousands of rheumatoid arthritis sufferers around the world. Their work has been recognised by the award of some of the most prestigious international prizes in science, including the Albert Lasker Clinical Medical Research Award and the Crafoord Prize of the Royal Swedish Academy

Professor Jon Cohen, Dean of BSMS said that Sir Ravinder was the ‘best example of a clinical scientist, someone who has taken the biology of cytokines all the way through from the basic science laboratory to clinical practice. This is what translational medicine is all about’

Sir Ravinder toured the BSMS research facilities, meeting staff and finding out more about the work that BSMS undertakes, particularly in the area of inflammation and immunity. He delivered a lecture to staff and students on how anti-TNF therapy has caused a paradigm shift in the treatment strategy of rheumatoid arthritis. He also hosted a seminar for researchers into insights of immune-mediated inflammation mechanisms based on his anti-TNF studies.

Sir Ravinder Maini with Professor Melanie Newport Sir Ravinder Maini with student

His clinical field of interest, rheumatology and immunity, is closely related to the research areas of inflammation and immunity that BSMS has developed.

Sir Ravinder said of BSMS: ‘‘working closely with the NHS, you have created a wonderful atmosphere for learning”.

BSMS director of research, Professor Kevin Davies, whose specialist interests include inflammatory rheumatic disorders, said that discoveries such as anti-TNF happen rarely which is why the research was so significant, but that ‘clinicians now rely on these drugs to change our patients’ lives and really make a difference’.