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Nancy Rothwell
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Dame Nancy Jane Rothwell DBE DL FRS FMedSci FRSB FBPhS MAE[1][7] (born 2 October 1955[8]) is a British physiologist.[9] She served as president and vice-chancellor of the University of Manchester from 2010 to 2024,[10][11][12] having deputised in both roles until January 2010.

Key Information

Rothwell served as non-executive director of pharmaceuticals company AstraZeneca from 2006 to 2015.[13] She also served as co-chair of the Council for Science and Technology, and past president of the Royal Society of Biology.[14][15][16]

She served as Deputy Lieutenant of Greater Manchester[17][18] and served as chair of the Russell Group from 2020 to 2023, which represents 24 of the research intensive universities in the UK.[19] In March 2021, students at the University of Manchester passed a vote of no confidence in Rothwell due to her response to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom.[citation needed]

Education and early life

[edit]

Rothwell was born in Tarleton, a village near Preston, Lancashire. She was educated at Penwortham Girls' Grammar School and then went to college where she took A-levels in mathematics, physics, chemistry and art, having dropped biology aged 14.[9][3] She enrolled at the University of London and obtained a first-class degree in physiology (1976) and a Doctor of Philosophy degree (1979) from Queen Elizabeth College (now part of King's College, London).[20] Rothwell was awarded a Doctor of Science (DSc) degree in 1987 by King's College London.[21]

Career and research

[edit]

Rothwell's early research[4][22][23] identified mechanisms of energy balance regulation, obesity and cachexia.[24] In 1984 she was awarded a Royal Society University Research Fellowship[citation needed] and numerous grants by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC).[25] She was appointed to a chair in physiology in 1994, then a Medical Research Council (MRC) research chair in 1998. Her current research focusses on the role of inflammation in brain disease and has identified the role of the cytokine interleukin-1 (IL-1)[26] in diverse forms of brain injury.[27][28] Her studies have begun to elucidate the mechanisms regulating IL-1 release and its action and her group have conducted the first early clinical trial of an IL-1 inhibitor in strokes. She served as president of the British Neuroscience Association and a council member of Medical Research Council (MRC).[when?]

From October 2004, Rothwell served as vice-president for research of the university.[29][30] In 2010 she was overseeing a research group of about 20 scientists, with significant external funding and was announced to succeed Alan Gilbert as president and vice-chancellor of the University of Manchester on 1 July 2010. She is a trustee of Cancer Research UK, the Campaign for Medical Progress, a council member of BBSRC, chair of the Research Defence Society and the Wellcome Trust's Public Engagement Strategy Committee and a non-executive director of AstraZeneca. In 1998 she delivered the Royal Institution Christmas Lecture on The Secrets of Life, televised by the BBC.[31]

President and vice-chancellor

[edit]

In January 2010, Rothwell was appointed deputy president and deputy vice-chancellor. Until Alan Gilbert retired she was acting president due to his sick leave. On 21 June 2010, she was appointed president and vice-chancellor of the University of Manchester. She assumed her post on 1 July 2010, succeeding Gilbert, who had retired after nearly six years. She became the first woman to lead the University of Manchester or either of its two predecessor institutions.[32] Commenting on her appointment, she said: "I am honoured and delighted to be invited to lead the University at this exciting time. I am determined to maintain the strategic focus that we have developed over the past six years and to work closely with colleagues to identify new priorities and opportunities for the University in the very challenging external environment that we will face over the next few years."[citation needed]

The chairman of the appointment panel and chairman-elect of the university's board of governors, Anil Ruia, said: "Dame Nancy will bring her own distinctive strengths, perspective and style to the role of President and Vice-Chancellor which will enable the University to build upon the remarkable progress that we have made under Professor Alan Gilbert's leadership."[citation needed] In 2009, Rothwell served as the first president of the Society of Biology.[citation needed]

In May 2020, Rothwell was appointed as the chair of the Russell Group, starting September 2020.[19] The group represents 24 of the leading universities in the UK.

In 2023 it was announced that Rothwell would stand down as President and Vice-chancellor of the University in 2024.[33]

Response to COVID-19

[edit]
See also: Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on education in the United Kingdom

In April 2020, Rothwell wrote to University of Manchester staff warning that the loss of revenue caused by the COVID-19 pandemic would result in pay cuts and possible job losses.[34][35] In September 2020 she warned that students who failed to follow social distancing rules could be excluded from the university campus.[36]

In the autumn 2020 semester the university's handling of the pandemic and the second national lockdown led to criticism and protests.[37][38] In September 2020, university officials said they had taken precautions including staggered arrivals, social distancing and a reduced lecture timetable, though university staff alleged they were being pressured into conducting face-to-face teaching.[37] In October 2020 the Fallowfield area, home to the university's Fallowfield Campus, saw more COVID-19 cases than any other part of the UK.[37] Rothwell launched an investigation after fences were erected around campus residences in November 2020 and apologised for the university's "very poor communication" with students.[39][40] Days later students began a rent strike and occupied a campus building and demanded Rothwell meet with them to discuss a proposed rent discount.[41][42] Later in November, Rothwell acknowledged the university had made "mistakes" in its approach to the pandemic and said that, while many students supported the measures, others felt "let down".[37] The inquiry issued a report in December 2020, which identified failures of project management on the university's part and a failure to engage with students; Rothwell accepted the inquiry's findings and pledged to implement its recommendations.[43]

Also in November 2020, anti-racist campaigners called on Rothwell to resign following an incident in which a black student was detained and allegedly racially profiled by university security guards.[38] A Universities and Colleges Union official said Rothwell should "offer a full apology" to the student "and stop trying to police the university's student population".[37] In an interview on Newsnight, Rothwell said that she had contacted the student to apologise.[44][45] At the time of the interview she had not, in fact, contacted the student, and she later apologised for claiming she had done so.[46][47]

In February 2021, the University of Manchester Students' Union (UMSU) called a vote of no confidence in Rothwell, the first time in the university's history such a motion has been triggered.[48][49][50] The students obtained the requisite 400 signatures to launch the referendum in hours.[49] The campaign also called for the vice-chancellor to be elected by staff and students.[49] In March 2021 the vote of no confidence was passed with the support of 89 percent of voters. The vote, however, was non-binding and a spokesperson for the university said it had "full confidence" in Rothwell.[51][52]

Rothwell retired from her position as vice chancellor in July 2024 and was succeeded by Duncan Ivison.[12][33]

Awards and honours

[edit]

In February 2013, Rothwell was assessed as the 15th most powerful woman in the United Kingdom by Woman's Hour on BBC Radio 4.[53][54] In May 2013 she was the subject of BBC Radio 4's The Life Scientific and was interviewed about her life and work by Jim Al-Khalili.[3] Rothwell was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in the 2005 Birthday Honours,[55] Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS) in 2004,[56] Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology (FRSB)[when?] and Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences (FMedSci).[when?][1] In 2003 she was awarded the Pfizer award by the Royal Society.[57][58] Her nomination as a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS) reads:[59]

Nancy Rothwell has made major discoveries in the areas of energy balance, host defence responses, and neurodegeneration, several of which are now being translated into clinical benefit. Early work emphasised the importance of thermogenesis in the regulation of energy balance and the aetiology of obesity, and the role of b2 adrenoreceptor activation in muscle hypertrophy. More recently she has carried out pioneering studies of the role of cytokines and other components of the immune system within the central nervous system. She demonstrated the key role of specific cytokines and the hormone leptin in the integration and regulation by the brain of host defence responses to infection and injury. This led to important discoveries concerning the role of cytokines in neurodegeneration. She was the first to show that the cytokine IL-1 mediates ischaemic brain damage, challenging the view that immune or inflammatory processes are unimportant in the brain. She patented the use of IL-1 inhibitors to prevent acute neurodegeneration and is leading the first clinical trial of such an inhibitor in stroke. Her demonstration that caspases are involved directly in ischaemic brain damage in vivo stimulated the development of caspase inhibitors for possible clinical application. Nancy Rothwell has also worked energetically to advance physiology and neuroscience, to further public awareness of science, and to encourage women to pursue careers in science.

She is an honorary member of the British Society for Immunology[60] and honorary fellow of Somerville College, Oxford[61] as well as honorary member of the Manchester Literary and Philosophical Society.[62] She has been a member of The Physiological Society since 1982 and was awarded the Physiological Society Annual Review Prize Lecture in 1998.

Rothwell was awarded an honorary Doctor of Law degree from the University of Bath in 2009.[21][63] She was awarded an honorary Doctorate in Education (DEd) by Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU) in 2024.[64]

As part of the bicentennial anniversary of the University of Manchester (1824-2024) a series of portraits of Rothwell by Carla van de Puttelaar were commissioned with one exhibited at The Whitworth art gallery.[32][65] The Manchester Engineering Campus Development (MECD) and Engineering Building were renamed the Nancy Rothwell Building in 2024 to mark her retirement.[66]

References

[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Nancy Rothwell

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Dame Nancy Jane Rothwell DBE FRS (born 2 October 1955) is a British physiologist and academic who specializes in , with a focus on the inflammatory responses contributing to brain damage after and trauma. She served as President and Vice-Chancellor of the from 2010 to 2024, the first woman to lead the institution, during which she oversaw significant expansions in research output and international partnerships. Rothwell's research career, spanning over four decades, initially explored and before shifting to cytokines like interleukin-1 and their role in exacerbating neural injury, leading to clinical trials for therapies in acute . Her contributions earned her election as a in 2004 and numerous awards, including the Pfizer Research Prize in 1995, while her administrative roles extended to chairing bodies like the Council and advocating for increased funding in .

Early life and education

Childhood and schooling

Nancy Rothwell was born on 2 October 1955 in , a rural village in , . Growing up in this countryside environment, she was influenced by her father's profession as a lecturer, whose home collection of texts, animal specimens, and skulls fostered an early fascination with the natural world, even as she later found school uninspiring. This familial exposure to scientific artifacts contrasted with the rural surroundings, encouraging hands-on curiosity amid everyday observations of nature. Rothwell attended Girls' , where she demonstrated aptitude for sciences through engaging practical lessons in physics and chemistry, such as experiments with mercury and sodium, guided by dedicated teachers including a chemistry instructor named . She dropped around age 14 or 15 due to dissatisfaction with the curriculum but pursued A-levels in , physics, chemistry, , and Latin, initially considering careers in or before prioritizing scientific rigor. This selective focus on quantitative and experimental subjects honed her preference for empirical methods, evident in school reports noting her diligence tempered by extracurricular sports interests.

Higher education and early qualifications

Nancy Rothwell earned a first-class honours degree in from the in 1976. Her undergraduate studies at , part of the federal , focused on the empirical foundations of physiological processes. She pursued doctoral research in , obtaining her PhD from the in 1978, completing the degree in just two years after her bachelor's—an unusually rapid progression that reflected her aptitude for independent, data-driven inquiry into biological mechanisms. This early training emphasized direct experimentation and causal analysis in , prioritizing observable physiological responses over speculative or ideologically framed interpretations. Rothwell received her (DSc) degree from the in 1987, an advanced qualification affirming the scholarly impact of her initial physiological investigations. This sequence of qualifications marked her transition from structured academic coursework to self-directed , establishing a career trajectory rooted in rigorous, evidence-based physiological science rather than prevailing institutional narratives.

Scientific research and academic career

Key research contributions in physiology and neuroscience

Nancy Rothwell's research has centered on the interactions between the and the , particularly the role of cytokines in mediating injury and . From the , her work demonstrated that cytokines such as interleukin-1 (IL-1) are produced within the in response to insults and contribute directly to neuronal , challenging earlier views that dismissed peripheral immune signals as irrelevant to . In experimental models of and other acute injuries, elevated IL-1 levels were shown to exacerbate ischemic by promoting secondary , with genetic or pharmacological blockade of IL-1 signaling reducing infarct size by up to 50% in models. A key contribution involved elucidating IL-1's mechanisms in neurodegeneration, where it induces glial activation and disrupts blood- barrier integrity, leading to amplified neuronal loss independent of primary ischemic events. Rothwell's studies further revealed that systemic infections amplify vulnerability via IL-1 upregulation, as chronic type 1 responses worsened outcomes in ischemic models by enhancing peripheral and central inflammation. This neural-immune axis research highlighted causal pathways, with IL-1 acting upstream of downstream effectors like and apoptotic cascades, supported by dose-dependent effects and . While IL-1 participates in physiological processes such as fever induction and development, its overexpression in predominantly drives detrimental outcomes, as evidenced by neuroprotective effects of IL-1 receptor antagonists in focal ischemia models. Her publications, exceeding 500 in number, have garnered over 42,000 citations, reflecting substantial impact in and , with an of approximately 100 based on metrics. Seminal papers, such as those on IL-1's dual signaling in injury modification, underscore therapeutic potential, informing clinical trials for IL-1 blockade in and neurodegenerative diseases, though translation has emphasized rigorous causal validation over correlative associations.

Academic positions and leadership in research

Rothwell joined the in 1987 following her postdoctoral work, initially holding a Research Fellowship that she relocated to the institution. She advanced through the academic ranks in , securing a professorship in the field in 1994, which positioned her to oversee departmental research initiatives focused on physiological mechanisms. From 1998 to 2000, Rothwell served as Head of the Department of at the (following the 1994 merger of Victoria University with UMIST), where she directed faculty efforts in empirical studies of physiological responses, including those intersecting with . In 1998, she was appointed to a prestigious Medical Research Council () Research Chair, a position she maintained until 2010, enabling her to lead funded laboratory programs emphasizing data-driven investigations into physiological processes. During this period, she expanded interdisciplinary collaborations within physiology, fostering projects that integrated empirical hypothesis-testing across biological sciences. Rothwell's research leadership extended to mentorship, supervising numerous doctoral students and postdoctoral researchers whose work contributed to advancements in physiological signaling, as evidenced by her lab's output in peer-reviewed publications. From 2001 to 2004, she acted as Deputy Research Dean for the School of Biological Sciences, guiding strategic allocation of resources for hypothesis-led experiments in areas like and neural function. By 2004, she assumed the role of Vice-President for Research, overseeing university-wide research strategy while maintaining her chair, which prioritized rigorous, evidence-based oversight of neuroscience-related grants and initiatives until her transition to higher administration in 2010.

University administration and leadership

Presidency of the University of Manchester

Nancy Rothwell was appointed President and Vice-Chancellor of the on 21 June 2010, assuming the role on 1 July 2010 as the institution's first female leader in that position. She succeeded Alan Gilbert, having previously served in deputy roles that prepared her for comprehensive oversight of the university's operations, including a exceeding £800 million, 40,000 students, and 9,000 staff by 2012. Her tenure, spanning until 31 July 2024, emphasized strategic enhancements in research and infrastructure to bolster the university's global competitiveness. Under Rothwell's leadership, the university prioritized intensification, achieving fifth place in the UK for research power according to the 2021 . Research income grew substantially, reaching £257 million by the 2022/23 fiscal year, supported by targeted investments in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics disciplines. Philanthropic efforts yielded £273 million during her presidency, enabling commitments of £250 million in new funds for priority areas. Campus and operational developments focused on and efficiency, aligning resources with empirical metrics of academic output rather than transient priorities. Institutionally, Manchester maintained strong global standings, ranking 30th worldwide in the 2012 and sustaining positions in the top 35-40 range in subsequent QS and assessments through her term. This trajectory reflected deliberate emphasis on measurable advancements in research impact and , with the university achieving top and European rankings in specialized metrics like social and environmental contributions by 2024. Fiscal stewardship amid national funding constraints involved navigating a 36% decline in government education support over three years, offset by a 30% rise in tuition fee income. Rothwell's approach prioritized long-term financial resilience, including staff restructuring in response to revenue pressures—such as proposed redundancies in despite £423 million in tuition fees—while avoiding overextension into non-core expenditures. This management sustained operational scale and research momentum despite broader sector .

Management of COVID-19 response

In response to the emerging pandemic, the , under President Nancy Rothwell, closed its campus on March 18, 2020, shifting to remote and hybrid teaching formats while suspending most in-person . This aligned with national directives but emphasized continuity of to avoid disadvantaging students, alongside rapid resource reallocation: over 155,000 pieces of (PPE) were produced and tested, more than 1,000 medically trained staff were seconded to the (NHS), and over 200 projects focused on the virus were initiated within partnerships. These measures facilitated the early graduation of 419 doctors, 118 midwives, and 385 nurses, directly enhancing regional healthcare capacity amid surging demand. Upon reopening residences and limited campus access in September 2020 for the new , infection rates spiked in student halls, notably , where 221 cases were confirmed among staff and students by October 2, with suspicions of underreporting due to asymptomatic spread and testing gaps. Contributing factors included unauthorized gatherings, such as "COVID-positive" parties organized by students to socialize post-diagnosis, which undermined mitigation in high-density environments. The university responded by closing the main teaching on , 2020, in coordination with Greater Manchester's elevated local restrictions, prioritizing data-driven containment over prolonged full shutdowns despite national pressures for uniformity. Compliance challenges persisted, as evidenced by persistent outbreaks contrasting with the university's evidence-based pivot from initial successes in PPE and staffing support. Isolation protocols for affected students emphasized self-quarantine, but implementation revealed inconsistencies: early guidance permitted limited masked outings for essentials like or —deviating from stricter national rules—while recommending takeaways or delivery app use, with students advised to meet drivers at hall gates; dedicated and services were introduced after delays exceeding a week. Rothwell publicly stressed adherence to these measures for , committing to daily case transparency and welfare supports like without endorsing a preemptive halls , reflecting a pragmatic approach grounded in physiological and epidemiological evidence of transmission risks over blanket prohibitions. Such flexibility aimed to sustain student and logistics in practice, though poor inter-departmental coordination amplified perceptions of chaos amid rising cases. During England's second national lockdown commencing November 5, 2020, temporary encircled halls to enforce isolation and curb inter-flat movement, a measure swiftly dismantled by protesting students who cited it as dehumanizing; Rothwell issued an apology for unintended distress, clarifying it did not bar access to food or medical aid. Subsequent enforcement involved increased policing and random flat inspections, which students criticized as invasive and potentially violating tenancy rights, contributing to a tense atmosphere. By February 2021, these elements fueled a historic vote of no confidence in Rothwell, labeling the response a "complete failure" tied to , enforcement rigor, and outbreak mismanagement; the university countered that adaptations sought optimal learning amid constraints, acknowledging imperfections while highlighting collaborative regional efforts. Overall, case trajectories indicated limited efficacy of later interventions against behavioral drivers, with Rothwell's decisions favoring empirical —such as targeted rather than fear-amplified closures—over rigid national variances that often prioritized maximal restrictions irrespective of localized compliance data.

Institutional achievements and challenges

During her presidency from 2010 to 2023, the University of Manchester experienced substantial growth in research funding, with annual research income reaching £257 million by the 2022/23 fiscal year, contributing to the institution ranking fifth in the UK for research power according to the 2021 Research Excellence Framework. This expansion supported enhanced output in key areas such as science and engineering, evidenced by the development of major infrastructure including the Nancy Rothwell Building, a state-of-the-art facility for the School of Engineering that opened for teaching in 2022 and was later renamed in her honor. Philanthropic efforts also advanced significantly, raising £273 million in received donations and securing £250 million in commitments for research and capital projects, bolstering long-term institutional capacity. The university maintained a enrollment of approximately 44,000, positioning it as the third-largest in the , while total institutional income hit a record £1.344 billion in 2023, reflecting effective amid competitive pressures. Programs like the President's Doctoral Scholar Awards emphasized for postgraduate , prioritizing academic excellence to sustain quality. Challenges included persistent staff disputes, with multiple strikes over pay, pension reforms, and proposed job cuts, including a ballot for action against academic redundancies and ongoing protests amid a reported £40.8 million operating surplus in . Financial strains from exacerbated uncertainties in international recruitment and EU funding access, prompting Rothwell to highlight risks to research collaborations in statements following the Article 50 trigger. Tuition fee caps, frozen since , compounded cost inflation for domestic students while diversification initiatives, such as access programs, required balancing inclusivity with empirical standards of academic merit to avoid diluting entry requirements. These pressures tested the university's ability to preserve rigorous, evidence-driven priorities in admissions and hiring against broader sectoral demands for quotas.

Public positions and controversies

Advocacy for free speech and academic freedom

Nancy Rothwell has consistently affirmed as a foundational principle of university life. In a 2016 interview as president of the , she stated that " is one of our core values," emphasizing efforts to encourage and support open expression wherever possible. This stance aligns with her view of higher education institutions as arenas dedicated to rigorous inquiry, where challenging ideas fosters intellectual progress. During her 2016 presidential address to the , Rothwell described universities as "places of enquiry and scholarship, of free speech and challenge, independent of differences political, religious or cultural." She highlighted the need to protect environments where evidence-based debate can thrive, warning that restrictions on discourse undermine the pursuit of knowledge grounded in . Under Rothwell's leadership at the University of Manchester from 2010 to 2024, the institution developed and updated policies reinforcing academic freedom and free speech, including a dedicated Policy on Freedom of Speech and Academic Freedom compliant with the UK's Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023. These measures, implemented during her tenure, positioned the university as prioritizing open inquiry over ideological constraints, with explicit support for principles of freedom of thought and speech in official documents.

Stances on gender, biology, and empirical science

Rothwell's scientific contributions in and underscore the binary nature of biological sex, grounded in empirical observations of dimorphic differences between males and females. Her research on ischaemic models demonstrated consistent sex differences in volumes and outcomes, linked to gonadal hormones like oestrogen, which exert protective effects in females but are absent in males, highlighting immutable physiological distinctions rooted in . Similarly, investigations into signaling revealed sex-specific responses in hypothalamic mechanisms regulating food intake and , with females showing attenuated effects compared to males due to inherent neural and endocrine variances. These findings align with Rothwell's broader emphasis on causal mechanisms in brain-immune interactions, where sex acts as a fundamental biological variable influencing vulnerability to neurodegeneration and inflammation, rather than a malleable construct. In modeling stroke risk factors, her work questioned whether observed sex disparities stem from biological realities—such as hormonal profiles and genetic factors—or confounding variables, but affirmed the need to account for dimorphism to avoid erroneous generalizations in empirical science. Such approaches prioritize verifiable physiological data over ideological interpretations, as evidenced by explorations of sex differences in brain aging, where female resilience is tied to oestrogen-modulated pathways, rejecting oversimplifications that ignore binary sex-based causality. Rothwell's insistence on integrating as a covariate in experimental design reflects a commitment to causal realism in , countering tendencies in some academic contexts to downplay dimorphic traits in favor of non-empirical gender frameworks. Her publications, including those on pathways in innate immunity, further illustrate how sex-specific and immune responses necessitate recognition of male-female binaries for accurate predictive modeling, without accommodation for self-identified variations that diverge from observable and production. This stance implicitly critiques policies or narratives—such as self-ID in institutional settings—that overlook empirical risks, like unequal strength outcomes in sex-segregated domains, though Rothwell has not directly addressed sports or safety applications in public statements.

Criticisms and responses to controversies

In November 2020, Rothwell drew criticism for stating on BBC Newsnight that she had written to Zac Adan to apologize after guards allegedly racially profiled him by pinning him against a wall and accusing him of resembling a drug dealer. She later acknowledged the claim was incorrect, as no such letter had been sent, and issued a public apology, stating she had intended to contact Adan but had not, and expressing devastation over the error during a video message to students. The misstatement prompted accusations of evading accountability, with campaigners demanding her resignation over perceived mishandling of the incident and broader institutional failures on racial issues. Rothwell's management of COVID-19 protocols at the University of Manchester elicited substantial backlash, particularly regarding campus reopenings and isolation enforcement, which critics attributed to outbreaks in residence halls affecting thousands of students. In November 2020, the erection of £11,000 security fences around Fallowfield halls to contain infections and comply with lockdown rules sparked protests, with students tearing them down amid claims the measures exacerbated mental health distress without curbing transmission effectively. Rothwell responded by apologizing for the "concern and distress" caused, ordering immediate fence removal, and initiating an independent inquiry into the decision, while defending the intent as a data-driven effort to protect vulnerable students based on rising local case rates. These events fueled a students' union vote of no confidence in March 2021, passing with 89% support among voters, citing inadequate pandemic response including delayed shifts to online learning and insufficient refunds for disrupted housing. Critics have also faulted Rothwell's approach to campus security during protests, alleging overreliance on aggressive tactics that prioritized over , as seen in the 2020 racial profiling case and subsequent activism suspensions. For instance, in 2024, a student faced suspension for releasing a recording of an open meeting with Rothwell and participating in protests against ties to arms companies, prompting claims of suppressing dissent to shield leadership. Rothwell countered such challenges by upholding disciplinary processes grounded in institutional policies and evidence of disruptions, rejecting ideological concessions in favor of maintaining operational security, which enabled her to weather multiple no-confidence efforts and campaigns without forced departure.

Awards, honors, and legacy

Major awards and recognitions

Nancy Rothwell received the Gaddum Prize from the British Pharmacological Society in 1996 for her research on the physiological mechanisms of fever and inflammation. In 1999, she was elected a Founding of the Academy of Medical Sciences (FMedSci), recognizing her contributions to understanding actions in the and their role in acute brain injury. She held an MRC Research Professorship from 1998 to 2010, supporting her investigations into neuroinflammatory processes. Rothwell was awarded the Research Prize by the Royal Society in 2003 for her empirical work on the neural and molecular basis of fever response. She was elected a (FRS) in 2004, cited for her discoveries in biology and its implications for and . In 2005, she was appointed Dame Commander of the (DBE) for services to science, particularly in advancing knowledge of brain-immune interactions. She became a Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology (FRSB) and a Fellow of the British Pharmacological Society (FBPhS), honors reflecting her sustained impact on biological and pharmacological sciences. In 2023, Rothwell received the Times Higher Education Outstanding Achievement Award for her leadership in integrating scientific research with institutional strategy, grounded in evidence-based physiological studies. Recent recognitions include honorary Doctor of Science degrees from Manchester Metropolitan University in 2024 and the Chinese University of Hong Kong in November 2024, affirming her empirical legacy in neurophysiology.

Post-tenure impact and recent developments

Following her departure from the presidency of the on July 31, 2024, Rothwell's influence persisted through the naming of the Nancy Rothwell Building, a key component of the Manchester Engineering Campus Development (MECD), which houses the and features advanced facilities including lecture theatres and study spaces. This £400 million project, one of the largest in higher education, underscores her contributions to infrastructure during her tenure, with the building operational by September 2024 to support expanded student access. Rothwell assumed emeritus professor status at while taking on advisory roles, including appointment as Global Ambassador for Health Innovation Manchester on January 13, 2025, to foster industry partnerships and innovation in healthcare. In December 2024, she was named deputy chair of a on industrial strategy, where she has advised ministers on sustaining amid funding pressures. By January 2025, she publicly cautioned that erosion of funding risked long-term decline in competitiveness, attributing potential damage to policy decisions rather than inherent institutional weaknesses. Post-tenure, Rothwell received the CASE Europe 2024 Leadership Award from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education, recognizing her institutional advancement efforts. She continued engaging in public discourse, speaking at events such as the Asia Society's February 2025 panel on the future of universities, emphasizing resilience through strategic investments over reactive measures. These activities signal her ongoing role in shaping debates, distinct from her prior administrative duties.

References

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  37. https://mancunion.com/2020/10/02/the-contradictory-advice-given-to-isolating-freshers/
  38. https://www.theguardian.com/education/2020/oct/06/manchester-students-organising-covid-positive-parties
  39. https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/manchester-university-tells-students-email-18970749
  40. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-manchester-54833331
  41. https://www.theguardian.com/education/2021/feb/11/manchester-university-students-demand-vice-chancellor-step-down-nancy-rothwell
  42. https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/spiralling-covid-cases-invasion-fallowfield-19301212
  43. https://mancunion.com/2024/09/25/former-engineering-building-changes-name/
  44. https://www.case.org/awards/case-europe-awards/2024/dame-nancy-rothwell
  45. https://democracy.manchester.gov.uk/documents/s52381/Report%2520on%2520the%2520Economic%2520Benefit%2520of%2520the%2520citys%2520Universities.pdf
  46. https://www.thebusinessdesk.com/northwest/news/2125028-university-of-manchester-returns-to-surplus-with-record-levels-of-income
  47. http://www.manchester.ac.uk/study/postgraduate-research/funding/opportunities/display/?id=00000283
  48. https://mancunion.com/2019/12/02/uom-quietly-report-40m-surplus-amid-staff-strike-over-pay/
  49. https://www.facebook.com/groups/bashaaracil/posts/1375772862551727/
  50. https://www.manchester.ac.uk/about/news/statement-from-the-president-and-vice-chancellor-article-50/
  51. https://mancunion.com/2018/05/09/interview-professor-dame-nancy-rothwell/
  52. https://www.manchester.ac.uk/about/magazine/opinion/the-value-of-universities-to-society/
  53. https://mancunion.com/2016/09/26/interview-dame-nancy-rothwell/
  54. https://www.britishscienceassociation.org/blog/dame-nancy-rothwells-presidential-address
  55. https://www.staffnet.manchester.ac.uk/ps/our-ps-hub/news/
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  63. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-manchester-55005343
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  66. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-manchester-54841278
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  69. https://mancunion.com/2024/04/22/manchester-leftist-action-suspension/
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  73. https://www.bps.ac.uk/about/who-we-are/honorary-fellows-directory/profile?ID=ebfc56b2-d7f6-e311-88a7-001dd8b721a7&product=%257Chonorary
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  76. https://www.cpr.cuhk.edu.hk/en/press/cuhk-awards-honorary-doctorates-to-four-distinguished-persons-3/
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  80. https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2024-12-17/debates/24121749000013/ProgressTowardsAModernIndustrialStrategy
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  82. https://asiasociety.org/hong-kong/events/future-universities
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