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Dame Nancy Rothwell DBE DL FMedSci FRS

Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell FRS is President and Vice-Chancellor of The University of Manchester.  She joined the Victoria University of Manchester in 1987, became Professor of Physiology in 1994 and held an MRC Research Chair from 1998 to 2010. Concurrent with her Faculty posts she has also held University roles as Vice-President for Research (2004-2007) and as Deputy President & Deputy Vice-Chancellor (2007-2010).  Her own research in the field of neuroscience, which is ongoing, has contributed towards major advances in the understanding and treatment of brain damage in stroke and head injury.


She was elected Fellow of Âé¶¹´«Ã½Ó³»­ in June 2004 and made Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in June 2005, in recognition of her services to science.


Professor Rothwell became President and Vice-Chancellor in July 2010, the first woman to lead The University of Manchester or either of its two predecessor institutions.  She was the founding President of Âé¶¹´«Ã½Ó³»­ of Biology and has also served as co-Chair of the Prime Minister’s Council for Science and Technology, and as a non-executive director of AstraZeneca.  She is currently Chair of the Russell Group, a Deputy Lieutenant for Greater Manchester, a Commissioner on the Law Family Commission on Civil Society, and a member of the UK Investment Council, the Oxford Road Corridor Board, the Northern Powerhouse Partnership Board, the UK Biobank Board and the Times Education Commission.


Professor Rothwell takes a strong and active interest in public communication of science and regularly gives talks to schools and the public and contributes to television, radio and press, particularly on sensitive issues in science. In 1998 she delivered the Royal institution Christmas Lectures, televised by the BBC.

Professional position

  • Campaign and External Relations Ambassador and Emerita Professor of Physiology, University of Manchester
  • Co-Chair, Council for Science and Technology (CST)
  • Former President and Vice Chancellor, University of Manchester
  • Committee Member, Science & Technology Honours Committee, Cabinet Office
  • Chair of Board, Corridor Manchester
  • Member, Greater Manchester Local Enterprise Partnership
  • Trustee, The Wolfson Foundation

Subject groups

  • Other

    Public understanding of science

  • Health and Human Sciences

    Clinical neuroscience

  • Multicellular Organisms

    Cellular neuroscience, Physiology incl biophysics of cells (non-clinical), Animal (especially mammalian) and human physiology and anatomy (non-clinical)

Dame Nancy Rothwell DBE DL FMedSci FRS
Elected 2004
Committees Participated Role
Science 2040 Steering Group July 2026 - December 2029 Chair
Nominations Committee June 2025 - December 2027 Chair
Planning and Resources Committee January 2025 - December 2027 Member
Council November 2024 - November 2027 Member
Science 2040 Steering Group March 2023 - November 2025 Member
Committee Advising Council on General and Honorary Candidates November 2017 - October 2020 Member
Council December 2013 - November 2016 Member
Michael Faraday Prize Committee January 2011 - December 2014 Member
Education Committee January 2010 - December 2010 Chair
Royal Society Education Research Fellowships Committee January 2009 - December 2011 Member
Council December 2008 - November 2010 Member
Audit Committee December 2008 - February 2010 Member
Education Committee January 2008 - December 2010 Chair
Rosalind Franklin Award Committee January 2005 - December 2007 Member
Sectional Committee 8: Multicellular organisms December 2004 - November 2008 Chair
Animals in Research Committee January 2003 - December 2005 Member
Scientific Unions Committee June 2002 - December 2003 Member