Professor Tony Marson has been appointed as the new Dean of the Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology (ISMIB), succeeding Professor Sonia Rocha.
Professor Marson is a world-leading clinical academic specialising in the treatment of epilepsy. Having graduated from Liverpool’s School of Medicine, he completed his clinical training at The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust and was a Wellcome Trust Research Fellow. Since 2008 he has been a Professor of Neurology in the Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics and is a Consultant Neurologist and epileptologist at The Walton Centre.
Tony is Programme Director of the Epilepsy Research Institute, which brings together epilepsy researchers from across the UK. He has led a programme of work that informs the treatment of epilepsy around the world, including the SANAD Trials, the largest multi-centre trials worldwide in epilepsy, which have informed the choice of first-line treatments. He also provides leadership to international consortia that are making significant advances in our understanding of the genetic architecture of the epilepsies.
Professor Marson said: "I am delighted to have the opportunity to work with ISMIB’s incredibly talented scientists and leaders, as the newly appointed Dean, and to build on the excellent work of Sonia Rocha and the Institute leadership team. Through a culture of team science and collaboration we have a massive opportunity to tackle significant health and societal problems, and to train and foster the next generation of students and scientists."
Professor Louise Kenny, Executive Pro-Vice-Chancellor of the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences said: "I’m delighted to welcome Professor Tony Marson to the Faculty Leadership team in the role of Dean of ISMIB. Tony is an exceptional academic leader who has forged an outstanding career in epilepsy research. As a fellow graduate of our Medical School, I know he shares my passion and ambition for the University of Liverpool, for our role in education and in the wider health and life sciences ecosystem regionally and nationally. I look forward to working with Tony over the next 5 years.
"I’d also like to thank Professor Sonia Rocha for her stellar contribution and service over the last five years. Under Sonia’s leadership, the Institute has blossomed into a vibrant and successful powerhouse of excellence in both teaching and research. I know that Sonia is particularly, and rightly proud, of the positive culture she has fostered in ISMIB and we wish her well with the next chapter as she turns her attention back to her lab full time."
Professor Marson will commence his role on 1 January 2025, for a five-year term.