Professor Keith Caldecott

Professor Keith Caldecott, a Sussex scientist who heads up world-leading research into genetic disease, has been named among this year’s Fellows newly elected to the Royal Society for his outstanding contributions to medical research. 

Professor Caldecott is one of the world’s leading researchers in the field of human genome damage and stability. His work has focused on identifying new human genes that repair DNA and uncovering their biological roles and importance for maintaining genome integrity and human health. 

Keith is Deputy Director of the Genome Damage and Stability Centre in the School of Life Sciences, having joined us in 2002. He has been elected previously to the European Molecular Biology Organisation and to The Academy of Medical Sciences.  

Keith’s work has identified novel genetic causes of neurodegeneration, and has contributed to the clinical diagnosis and understanding of hereditary neurological diseases caused by broken DNA.  For example, Keith’s laboratory discovered the function of the novel human gene TDP2, and identified mutations in this gene as a cause of developmental delay, cerebellar degeneration, and seizures. Keith’s work has enabled better clinical diagnosis and management of children and adults affected by this and many other related diseases, worldwide, and has uncovered promising new therapeutic avenues to explore. 

Keith said: “It is a great honour to be elected a fellow of the Royal Society, and a testament to the quality of the people that I have worked with during my career, including many fantastic students, postdoctoral fellows, and laboratory and academic colleagues. I am also indebted to my many mentors here at Sussex and further afield, and particularly Penny Jeggo, Larry Thompson, Tomas Lindahl, Laurence Pearl, and Steve West, all of whom I learned much from as a student and young scientist." 

Professor Sarah Guthrie, Head of the School of Life Sciences said: “I am absolutely delighted that Keith Caldecott has been elected to the Royal Society, an honour entirely befitting his oustanding science, dedication and leadership in his field. As Deputy Director of our internationally-recognised Genome Damage and Stability Centre, he is pre-eminent in a critical research area at the boundary between genome damage mechanisms and neuroscience, which impacts on future treatments for human disease. The School of Life Sciences is very proud of his achievements and he will continue to inspire generations of scientists to come.” 

Professor Keith Jones, our Pro-Vice-Chancellor Research & Enterprise and Interim Provost said: “This is a marvellous accolade, richly deserved by someone exemplary in his field. The University of Sussex, and colleagues in his School and laboratory can be deservedly proud of having supported Keith in achieving this high recognition. I hope Keith will be a great ambassador for the University in his future work as a Fellow of the Royal Society.”

About the Royal Society
The Royal Society is a self-governing Fellowship made up of the most eminent scientists, engineers and technologists from the UK and the Commonwealth. Fellows and Foreign Members are elected for life through a peer review process on the basis of excellence in science. Each year up to 52 Fellows and up to 10 Foreign Members are elected from a group of around 800 candidates who are proposed by the existing Fellowship. 

Sir Adrian Smith, President of the Royal Society said: “I am delighted to welcome our newest cohort of Fellows. These individuals have pushed forward the boundaries of their respective fields and had a beneficial influence on the world beyond. 

“Among this year’s intake are individuals who were at the forefront of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic response, and those working on global challenges, from TB to climate change. They are pioneering scientists and innovators from around the world who have confounded expectations and transformed our thinking.  

“This year’s intake have already achieved incredible things, and I have no doubt that they will continue to do so. I look forward to meeting them and following their contributions in future.”

See more information on the Royal Society website.

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