Endocrine Abstracts

Brian Walker, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom. Abstract

Brian Walker is Professor of Endocrinology at the University of Edinburgh, where he is administrative head of a 60-strong multidisciplinary research group in the Centre for Cardiovascular Science.

He graduated in medicine in Edinburgh in 1986 and completed his clinical training in Glasgow and Edinburgh. Since 1996 he has practiced as an honorary consultant in Diabetes and Endocrinology at the Western General Hospital in Edinburgh, recently transferring his activities to the Royal Infirmary following the opening of the Queen’s Medical Research Institute at the new Little France campus.

Brian’s research interest in cortisol and cardiovascular disease began when he worked with Chris Edwards as an MRC Training Fellow, and developed as a Lecturer and British Heart Foundation Senior Research Fellow. The focus of his group has been on translating findings in animal models into detailed mechanistic experiments in humans. He published the original studies elucidating the role of 11β-HSD type 1 as a therapeutic target in obesity and diabetes, and was influential in the studies linking activation of the HPA axis with low birth weight and adult cardiovascular risk factors.

Brian has served the Society as former Senior Editor for Journal of Endocrinology, Editorial Board Member for Clinical Endocrinology, and member of several working groups and organising committees.