 |
|
|
| Alejandro Madrigal |
| Chair of Haematology, Department of Haematology, The Royal Free and University College Medical School, London, UK. |
|
I have held the Chair of Haematology at the Royal Free and University College Medical School, London University since 1997. I am a DSc and a Fellow of the Royal College of Pathologists and Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians. I joined The Anthony Nolan Bone Marrow Trust as Head of Research in 1993 and was appointed Director of Research in 1995.
I studied Medicine at the University of Mexico and specialized in Internal Medicine. From 1983 to 1985, I was a WHO Fellow at Harvard University; during 1985-1989, I undertook a PhD Degree at the Imperial Cancer Research Fund and between 1989-1993, I was a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Stanford University. I was awarded The Stanford Deans’ Fellowship and a Fellowship from The Leukemia Society of America. I am Chairman of the EBMT Immunobiology Working Party and I am a member of several national and international boards.
My main focus of research is orientated towards improving the outcome of bone marrow transplantation. I have over one hundred and fifty publications, which include key fundamental research papers published in prestigious peer reviewed journals.
|
Why did you go into hematology?
I went into the field of Hematology because my background was very much in Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics, which was very relevant to the area of donor selection for unrelated bone marrow/stem cell transplantation.
Who or what has most inspired you in your work?
Medicine in general has been the most inspiring activity of my life. First, in the clinical area and then in the scientific research field, I have found enormous satisfaction in the knowledge that it is possible to help improve the lives of patients.
Which scientific papers have made a great impression on you?
It would be impossible to select one single paper that has made a unique impression on me, but with no doubt the work by Peter Gorer, Louis Pasteur and Sir Peter Medawar has been very inspiring.
What is the most important lesson you've learnt in your professional life?
The most important lesson is that you have to fight for what you believe in life.
What do you consider to be your greatest achievement?
The best aspect of my work is the great opportunity to provide unrelated bone marrow for patients in order to be able to save lives.
What are the best and worst aspects of your job?
The most frustrating aspect is the challenge that we face trying to prevent and treat cancer and leukemia in a more specific way.
When or where are you happiest?
I enjoy my work very much and I feel that this is not really a work activity but a pleasure.
What do you do to relax?
Reading and listening to classical music, in particular Mozart and Schubert.
What book are you reading at the moment?
I am reading several books, including The History of Art by E.H. Gombrich and The Fall of the Roman Empire by Edward Gibbon. I also read poetry, in particular I like Philip Larkin; and in Spanish I enjoy the work of Lorca, Antonio Machado, and Octavio Paz.
What's your most evocative piece of music?
If I had to choose one piece of music, it might be the Second Movement of Mahler’s 5th Symphony “addageto” however, it would be hard not to include Bach’s Cello Suite No. 1, Mozart’s New Concerto No. 20 in ‘D’ Minor, Mozart’s Requiem and Verdi’s Requiem.
What's your favorite film?
My favourite film is ‘Death in Venice’.
What are your hobbies?
Listening to classical music, reading, art, poetry and playing tennis.
What car do you drive?
Toyota Celica
What are your unfulfilled ambitions?
To write a novel.
How would you like to be remembered?
I would like to be remembered as someone who lived with enormous passion and dedication for everything that he did, who enjoyed the companionship of family and friends, and took every opportunity to make a difference to the lives of patients around the world.
|
If you would like to add your profile, please
|
|
|
|
|
The
global source for hematology education, practice and research
