Michael joined the College Council in 2019 becoming a full independent member in 2021.
Michael is Honorary Professor at UCL Medical School, University College London. He was formerly Vice-Chancellor of the University of Sussex until 2016, and before that Principal of St George’s, University of London, Executive Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Glasgow and Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at Bart’s and the London. He graduated from the University College Hospital Medical School and undertook training posts in Cambridge, London and Boston, USA. As a clinical academic his major research interests included the pathogenesis and treatment of intestinal infection and he has collaborated with researchers on major projects in India, sub-Saharan Africa and Central America.
He was editor of Gut from 1996-2002 and is an editorial board member of several international gastroenterology journals. He has served as President of the British Society of Gastroenterology and President of United European Gastroenterology. He has taken an active interest in research and publication integrity and in misconduct in biomedical research. He was founding Chair of COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics) between 1998 and 2003. He was founding Vice-Chair of the UK Research Integrity office. He served as a member of the UK medical regulator, The General Medical Council and chaired the Audit and Risk committee.
He currently Chairs the Royal Medical Benevolent Fund, The Charleston Trust and the West Pier Trust Brighton. He has broad interests in the visual and performing arts and has recently published a book with his artist brother on Leonardo’s da Vinci’s anatomical drawings (Leonardo da Vinci: Under the skin) and published a second book in 2019, Finding India.
