Dundee Professor honoured with national award for medical science

Professor Blair H Smith from the University of Dundee School of Medicine has been awarded the Lady Margaret MacLellan Award for 2024, recognising his outstanding contributions to medical science in Scotland.

The award, presented by Tenovus Scotland, was given at a ceremony held on 16 June at the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow. This year’s theme focused on Big Data in Health Care, acknowledging Professor Smith’s influential work in applying large-scale data to improve the understanding and management of long-term health conditions.

Professor Smith said, “I am truly honoured to receive this award, and to be counted among such an august list of previous recipients, it’s not just my work that this recognises, but that of all the amazing colleagues I’ve had the pleasure to work with over the last 30-plus years in epidemiological research. I am very grateful to them and to Tenovus Scotland for this presentation.”

Professor Smith is the fifth Dundee researcher to receive the Lady Margaret MacLellan Award, joining a distinguished group of recipients whose contributions span more than four decades.

Professor Sue Pyne, Tenovus Scotland, said, “Tenovus Scotland confers the biennial Lady Margaret MacLellan Award to recognise outstanding contributions to medical science in Scotland. The award includes a suitably inscribed memento in the form of a rose bowl, along with a monetary prize.

“In 2024, we were pleased to present the 20th award to Professor Blair Smith for his work employing Big Data in Healthcare. He was recognised for his leadership in establishing and facilitating Big Data resources such as Generation Scotland, where he leads the Expert Working Group on Chronic Pain, as well as for a chronic pain resource within UK Biobank, and the curation of pain research datasets through the Alleviate Pain Data Hub.

“This award also celebrates his outstanding international research contributions to the fields of chronic and neuropathic pain.”

Professor Chim Lang, Chair, Tenovus Tayside and North East Fife, said, “Warmest congratulations to Blair on winning this prestigious prize for his outstanding research in Big Data. His innovative work and dedication are truly inspiring, and this recognition is well-deserved.”

The Lady Margaret MacLellan Award is presented every two years to individuals who have made exceptional advances in medical science in Scotland. Previous recipients have included leaders in fields ranging from genomics to public health.