MRC saddened by death of Professor Sir Richard Doll
25 July 2005
On hearing of the death of Professor Sir Richard Doll, the Medical Research Council (MRC) Chief Executive, Professor Colin Blakemore said:
"We have lost a great scientific mind. Professor Sir Richard Doll was one of the most important medical scientists of the 20th century. His proof of the link between smoking and cancer has done as much to save lives as the discovery of penicillin or the development of polio vaccine. The profound implications for health policy resonate to this day.
"He will be greatly missed by his colleagues at Oxford and all around the world, for whom he was an inspiring leader and a wonderful friend".
For more information contact the MRC Press Office on 020 7637 6011.
Notes to Editors
The MRC is a national organisation funded by the UK taxpayer. Its business is medical research aimed at improving human health; everyone stands to benefit from the outputs. The research it supports and the scientists it trains meet the needs of the health services, the pharmaceutical and other health-related industries and the academic world. MRC has funded work that has led to some of the most significant discoveries and achievements in medicine in the UK. About half of the MRC's expenditure of approximately £500 million is invested in its 40 Institutes, Units and Centres. The remaining half goes in the form of grant support and training awards to individuals and teams in universities and medical schools.
