A leading Aberdeen anatomy professor has received a prestigious honour.
Professor Simon Parson, who leads the anatomy department at Aberdeen University, has been appointed Regius Chair of Anatomy.
Regius chairs are prestigious positions instituted in disciplines judged to be “fundamental and for which there is a continuing and significant need.”
Appointment to the role is suggested by the Scottish Government and then approved by Her Majesty The Queen.
King James IV founded the first Regius Professorship at Aberdeen University in 1497, in the field of medicine.
Professor Parson has become the seventh academic to hold the title in Aberdeen, since it was first held by Sir John Struthers in 1863.
His research focuses on the pathology of the childhood motor neurone disease Spinal Muscular Atrophy, where in particular he worked to show the importance of non-neuronal pathologies in the cause of the disease.
He has worked to increase opportunities for clinical and surgical training in the North East through collaborations with plastic, neuro and orthopaedic surgeons as well as anesthetists.
Professor Parson said: “It is a great honour to hold this prestigious title and to follow in the footsteps of so many influential anatomists who have held it in the past.”
