Professor Edwin Chilvers leaves NHLI

Professor Edwin Chilvers with his wife Rowena

Professor Edwin Chilvers stepped down as Head of Institute for the National Heart and Lung Institute (NHLI) at the end of May 2023.

After a term of five years Edwin Chilvers, Emeritus Professor of Medicine, stepped down from his role as Head of Institute at the National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial. The role of Interim Head of Institute has been taken on by Professor Clare Lloyd as the search for a new substantive Head is carried out. Edwin took up the position of Head of the NHLI in October 2018 joining Imperial from the University of Cambridge, and early on he put in place a five year Strategic Plan for NHLI, which has been well delivered. It is fair to say that Edwin had an instant and lasting impact on staff and students across NHLI with his energy and drive to better ourselves clear to everyone. Professor Chilvers will be taking over the Chair of the BHF Fellowships Committee from November 2023 alongside some other projects. 

Professor Jonathan Weber, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, comments “Edwin was my first Head of Department appointment as Dean - at the time it was novel to bring in an outside candidate into an appointment which up until then had always been internal. I am delighted to say that Edwin surpassed all expectations, bringing a critical but supportive external gaze to re-shape the NHLI. His extraordinary attention to detail, commitment and passion for the NHLI will be long remembered and I believe that the impact of his strategy for the NHLI will reverberate nationally”.

His positive attitude and push to celebrate and take-in our successes was a plus for the culture at NHLI and is something I hope we can take forward”. Professor Clare Lloyd Interim Head of NHLI

Members of NHLI and those from across the wider Imperial community gathered on 17 May 2023 at the White City campus to wish Professor Chilvers well and thank him for all his hard work and dedication. Edwin was presented after the event with a book of collected comments and photos from people across the College’s staff and students. Many people made reference to how generous Edwin was with his time in supporting and encouraging all staff in their varied careers. Taking the time to get to know and appreciate the contribution of all groups of staff across the large Department, as well as strong support of our students. He was a visible presence at a wide range of Departmental events including our Annual Athena Swan Lecture and other EDI initiatives. Professor Chilvers was also the instigator of the Making Waves project that aimed to update the imagery across NHLI’s buildings, with new portraits now hung at Brompton and Hammersmith campuses, to better reflect NHLI’s community today.

Institute Manager at NHLI, Joanna O’Brien, reflects on the impact Edwin had on the Department “Edwin improved transparency in decision-making and communication across the Department, so that everyone in NHLI was kept informed and able to ask questions, be that through all staff meetings or access to Executive meetings. He demanded and delivered high standards and professionalism in everything we do at NHLI across our research, educational and administrative endeavours”. 

Professor Chilvers has a distinguished career in respiratory research. His main research interests are in inflammatory cell biology and the intracellular signals that regulate the activation and survival of white blood cells. Edwin’s research has a particular focus on the role of phosphoinositide 3-kinase and HIF1-alpha in regulating human and murine neutrophil function. This research has translational relevance to a range of inflammatory lung diseases including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma and acute lung injury.

A word from colleagues

Professor Clare Lloyd, Interim Head of NHLI, notes “Edwin has left some rather large shoes to fill. He has provided outstanding leadership for the NHLI over the last five years. It has been a great experience being part of the team and I have appreciated his mentorship and support of staff across the board, but particularly the early career researchers. His positive attitude and push to celebrate and take-in our successes was a plus for the culture at NHLI and is something I hope we can take forward”. 

Co-Head of the Cardiovascular Division at NHLI, Professor Jane Mitchell remarks “Edwin was transformational for the NHLI. He nurtured all that was excellent in the Department while levelling up aspects that could be improved. His eye for detail is incredible yet he delegated duties with trust and confidence allowing us to develop and grow into our respective roles. I would like to offer my personal thanks to him for his contribution and for his incredible generosity’.

Salina Nicoleau, PGR student representative for NHLI, says “Edwin has always been very supportive of our initiatives as a committee to enhance the Postgraduate Research (PGR) student experience and has enabled us to host regular social events for our PGR community. He was always open to new suggestions from our committee and made sure students' voices and opinions were heard and listened to when making decisions affecting them”.

Co-Head of the Respiratory Division at NHLI, Professor Wisia Wedzicha comments “Edwin was an exceptional leader of NHLI who had great strategic vision for the Insitute. He has been excellent to work with and I know that we all learned so much from his time with us and he was so willing always to give every member of NHLI his time. He had great attention to detail, but was the ultimate team player and always listened to our views. He knew everyone in NHLI and paid particular attention to our early career researchers who greatly benefitted from his mentorship. We are all grateful to Edwin for the last five years and he has left a precious legacy in NHLI”.

Professor Darrel Francis, Co-Head of the Cardiovascular Division notes “Edwin’s energy and devotion to the development of people in NHLI was astonishing. He repeatedly surprised us with his grasp of the entire breadth of our cardiovascular work, and insightful contributions and suggestions at every turn. His will be enormously challenging shoes to fill, but we can say for certain that he has made a tremendous impact on NHLI that will last decades into the future, through advances in both appointments and Departmental ethos. ’ 

Everyone at the National Heart and Lung Institute wishes Edwin well in his future endeavours and thanks him for all he gave to us as a Department and as individuals.