1. Patrick Vallance previously served as HM Government chief scientific adviser from 2018 to 2023.
25 Facts About Patrick Vallance
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From 1986 to 1995, Vallance taught at St George's Hospital Medical School, where his research concentrated on vascular biology and endothelial cell physiology.
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Patrick Vallance served as chairman of the Natural History Museum's board of trustees between 2022 and 2024.
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In March 2020, as HM Government's Chief Scientific Adviser, Patrick Vallance appeared alongside Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Chris Whitty, Chief Medical Officer for England, in televised briefings on the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Patrick Vallance was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath in the 2022 New Year Honours for "services to public health".
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In July 2024, Patrick Vallance was appointed Minister of State for Science, Research and Innovation by Prime Minister Keir Starmer following the Labour Party's victory at the 2024 general election.
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Patrick Vallance was born on 17 March 1960 to Peter Vallance and Barbara in south-west Essex, now part of Greater London.
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Patrick Vallance was educated at Woodford Green Preparatory School and Buckhurst Hill County High School, and subsequently privately educated at Truro School.
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Patrick Vallance studied medicine at St George's, University of London, from 1978, where he was taught by Joe Collier, professor of Medicines Policy, and from which he received a Bachelor of Science degree in 1981 followed by a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery degree in 1984.
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From 1986 to 1995 Patrick Vallance taught at St George's Hospital Medical School, where his research concentrated on vascular biology and endothelial cell physiology.
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Patrick Vallance performed studies which demonstrated the link between nitric oxide and blood pressure.
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Patrick Vallance was registrar of the Academy of Medical Sciences.
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In 2006, in his mid-40s, Patrick Vallance joined GSK as head of drug discovery.
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Patrick Vallance championed open innovation and novel industry-academic partnerships globally, and maintained a focus on the search for new antibiotics and treatments for tropical diseases.
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In March 2018, Patrick Vallance left GSK, and on 4 April 2018 he began his five-year tenure as Chief Scientific Adviser to the UK Government, replacing the interim officeholder Chris Whitty.
16.
In March 2020, as the Government's Chief Scientific Adviser, Patrick Vallance appeared alongside Prime Minister Boris Johnson and the Chief Medical Officer for the UK, Chris Whitty, in televised briefings on the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Patrick Vallance stated in the same statement that he "regrets" his use of the term "herd immunity" in those instances.
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On 5 July 2024, Patrick Vallance was appointed Minister of State for Science in the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology by Prime Minister Keir Starmer following the Labour Party's victory at the 2024 general election.
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In November 2024, Patrick Vallance gave the opening speech at the Royal Institute of Navigation annual seminar.
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In 1995, Patrick Vallance was elected a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians.
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Patrick Vallance was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 2017 and an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering in 2022.
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Patrick Vallance was appointed Knight Bachelor in the 2019 New Year Honours for "services to open clinical science".
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Patrick Vallance was promoted Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath in the 2022 New Year Honours for "services to science in government".
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Patrick Vallance was awarded the Lister Medal by the Society of Chemical Industry in 2022, an award recognising prominent leaders working on important advancements for society in the medicinal field.
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Patrick Vallance married Sophia Ann Dexter in 1986; they have two sons and one daughter.