Leading cardiologist to harness Norwich’s world class research

The University of East Anglia, in a joint initiative with the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals (NNUH), has appointed Prof Andrew Stewart Coats as Norwich Research Park ‘professor at large’.

The very first ‘professor at large’ was the anatomist, Baron Solly Zuckerman, formerly chief scientific adviser to the British government, who helped develop the university’s world-leading School of Environmental Science – one of the first of its kind.

Prof Stewart Coats’ primary responsibility will be to harness the research strengths of the university’s research groups, and those of the Norwich Research Park and the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals (NNUH).

He will work from offices in the university’s Faculty of Health and in the NNUH. He joins University of East Anglia from the University of Sydney, where he was deputy vice-chancellor, and has a distinguished career in academia and in influencing government policy.

Prof Stewart Coats is a cardiologist and an eminent authority in heart failure and a condition called cachexia – in which severe wasting complicates a variety of conditions such as cancer, heart and renal failure. His main research interests focus on the treatment of heart failure.

Prof Ian Harvey, dean of the Faculty of Health, said: “I am delighted to welcome Andrew Stewart Coats to the university. Andrew is respected throughout the academic and medical world for his research achievements and innovation. He brings a huge range of expertise in research, management and leadership which will be invaluable to the university and to our research partners as we continue to build our world-leading research capability. His work will draw enormously on the very positive partnerships with our colleagues across the Norwich Research Park and the NNUH.”

Anna Dugdale, chief executive of the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: “The appointment of Andrew Stewart Coats is an extremely exciting opportunity to build on the already world class research of our partners on the Norwich Research Park, linking the existing research Institutes, the UEA and the NNUH and building the bridge between research in basic science and health care.”

Prof Stewart Coats said: “I am delighted to take up this important appointment and, given the remarkable career of Lord Zuckerman and his association with the university, I am very honoured to take up the title of ‘professor at large.’

“I very much look forward to working with the strong research partnerships here in Norwich so that we continue to deliver and develop further our world class research. In choosing to come here I saw very positive indicators in the growing range of research, the combined intellectual weight across the NRP and a shared Norwich Science Vision.”

Prof Stewart Coats was educated at both Oxford and Cambridge universities. He also is an MBA from the London Business School and has research interests in organisational behaviour and change. He has published in excess of 1200 publications. Among his many awards are the inaugural Michael L Polllock Award (American Heart Association) and the Linacre Medal (Royal College of Physicians London).