A decorated north-east scientist has been honoured with a prestigious award for his work.
Dr Roger Staff, who is based at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, has a world-wide reputation – winning numerous awards since entering the field of nuclear science in 1988.
His work has taken him as far afield Singapore, South Africa and California to investigate the impact of ageing on brains, and has spoken at events at Harvard Univiersity and the World Congress of Neurology in Morocoo.
Now the NHS Grampian scientist has been presented with another top award,from the British Nuclear Medicine Society.
He was awarded the Norman Veall Medal, which is for scientists who make an outstanding contribution to clinical science or the practice of nuclear medicine in the UK.
“I am the youngest ever recipient, which puts a smile on my face,” Dr Staff said.
It is named after the late Doctor Veall who was one of the pioneers of nuclear medicine in Britain.
The annual award – in memory of Dr Normal Veall – a pioneer in his field – has previously been won by Peter Sharp and Professor John Mallard, both also from Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.
For Dr Staff, following in the footsteps of the former Aberdonian winners was a special moment.
“John Mallard is an Aberdeen Scientific hero,” said the 53-year-old.
“He was head of department when I first joined so appearing on the same list is an honour.
“Peter Sharp was my PhD supervisor who has guided my early career, so it’s nice to think that all his efforts were not in vain.”
The medical department at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary has now won the Normal Veall Medal more times than any other department in the country.
And Dr Staff is looking forward to sharing the accolade with his colleagues, who have been of hugely important to him during his career.
“I plan to celebrate my win with the department at Aberdeen,’’ said the scientist. “They are a fantastic team to work with and without their support the standards of excellence we have set would not be possible.”
Receiving the award is the latest in a long line of honours for the doctor, who was born in London in 1965. He studied for his first degree at the University of East Anglia, specialising in physics.
In 1998 Dr Staff moved to the Granite City and completed his PhD in medical physics at Aberdeen University. Fast forward seven years later, and Dr Staff had returned to the university as a senior lecturer.
It was here in the north-east that that he fully developed an interest in the imaging and assessment of the ageing brain.
Dr Staff has since been a member of the Aberdeen Royal Infirmary imaging physics department for almost 30 years and currently leads the team.
He is also deputy director of the Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine (IPEM), and chairman of the Scottish Nuclear Medicine Heads of Department group.
