Professor Clive Orchard, who heads Bristol University’s Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, has been appointed Dean of the Faculty of Medical and Veterinary Sciences. He will take up the position on 1 September, when Professor Len Hall, the current Dean, becomes one of the University’s Pro Vice-Chancellors.

Professor Orchard completed his BSc and PhD at the University of London. He was a post-doctoral research assistant at University College London before moving to the USA as a National Institutes of Health Fellow in the Cardiovascular Section. He subsequently moved to the University of Maryland as Research Assistant Professor.

He was appointed to a lectureship at the University of Leeds in 1986, became Reader in 1992 and was awarded a personal Chair in Physiology in 1995. In 1998 he became the first Head of Leeds’ School of Biomedical Sciences, which was formed from the Departments of Physiology, Pharmacology and Anatomy.

He moved to Bristol University in 2005 as Head of the Department of Physiology, which merged with the Department of Pharmacology in 2007.

Professor Orchard’s research interests are in cardiac excitation-contraction coupling – the processes that bring about contraction of the heart. Away from work, he enjoys hill walking, reading and music, particularly playing classical guitar.

He said: “I look forward to building on Len Hall’s achievements and to working with colleagues to make the most of the exciting opportunities that lie ahead for the faculty.”

Professor Eric Thomas, Vice-Chancellor, said: “I have every confidence that, like his predecessor, Clive will make an excellent dean and that the faculty’s research and teaching will go from strength to strength.”