UHSM's Professor Ashley Woodcock has been announced as the President Elect of the prestigious British Thoracic Society. A leading researcher and physician in respiratory diseases, Professor Woodcock has a track record in environmental campaigning, and shared the Nobel Prize with Al Gore and others in 2007 for his work on CFCs and climate change.

Professor Woodcock is Professor of Respiratory Medicine at the North West Lung Centre and the University of Manchester. He is also a Consultant Respiratory Physician at UHSM where he is the Clinical Academic Lead.

Earlier this year he became the latest high profile appointment to the executive management team of MAHSC (Manchester Academic Health Science Centre) when he became the Academic Section Lead for Inflammation and Repair- one of five clinical areas identified to improve the health and well-being of the population of Greater Manchester, which registers some of the poorest health in the country.

Professor Woodcock says he is delighted and honoured to be elected President of the BTS. “The country and our region particularly face huge health challenges. One in seven people in the UK are affected by lung and chest problems and tens of thousand die each year. I believe it is only by translating research and education into healthcare that we will truly benefit our patients – now and in the future. I look forward to taking up my appointment in 2012.“