Our Chair receives the Sir James Black Medal
Our Chair receives the Sir James Black Medal
Professor Stuart Ralston receives prestigious award
Sir James Black Medal awarded to Prof Stuart Ralston
Our Chair, Professor Stuart Ralston, Professor of Rheumatology at the University of Edinburgh, was one of ten distinguished individuals from across a range of disciplines, including medicine, disease research, marine biology, law, astrophysics and machine learning, who attended a reception at the Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE) to receive the Sir James Black Medal. Sir James Whyte Black (1924 -2010) was awarded the Nobel Prize for Medicine in 1988, the Order of Merit in 2000, a Knighthood in 1981 and the RSE Royal Medal in 2001.
The Sir James Black Medal celebrates individuals whose exceptional contributions have advanced Scotland’s research landscape. Their work not only elevates Scotland’s global reputation but also improves lives around the world. The 2025 awards were presented by Professor Anne Anderson, RSE Vice-President of Research, who warmly congratulated all recipients on their achievements.
Transformative contributions to medicine and public health
Professor Ralston is internationally renowned for his pioneering research into bone and joint disease, work that has revolutionised patient care and informed national guidelines. His commitment to medical education has influenced and inspired generations of students and professionals across the globe.
Throughout his career, Professor Ralston has demonstrated exceptional insight, innovation and leadership, having a profound impact both in the UK and internationally. As Chair of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), he played a national role in overseeing the safety of medicines. The MHRA advised on the emergency approval of the COVID-19 vaccines which saved countless lives.
Professor Ralston commented -
“I am honoured to accept this award on behalf of my current research team at the University of Edinburgh and other collaborators that I’ve worked with over the past four decades. I would like to acknowledge the funding I’ve received from Versus Arthritis, the NIHR, the European Research Council and the Royal Osteoporosis Society, which has supported the programmes of research that I have been involved with to gain a greater understanding of the causes of bone disease and to optimise treatment strategies.
I’ve also been fortunate to contribute to medical education worldwide as an author and editor of Davidson’s Principles and Practice of Medicine and to have played a role in Medicines Regulation in the UK as Chair of the Commission for Human Medicines between 2013 and 2021, during which time the Commission provided advice to the MHRA on the licensing of COVID vaccines.”