Kenneth Baillie

British critical care physician
J. Kenneth Baillie
Academic background
EducationEdinburgh University
Academic work
DisciplineCritical care, genomics
InstitutionsUniversity of Edinburgh
Websitewww.research.ed.ac.uk/en/persons/kenneth-baillie

Kenneth Baillie FRSE FMedSci, Professor of Experimental Medicine at the University of Edinburgh, is a medical scientist working in genomics in critical care medicine and respiratory infection.

Research

Through his work in genomics, he has made several discoveries including finding multiple human genes that are important in critical illness caused by influenza.[1] and COVID-19.[2][3] He started the GenOMICC (Genetics of Mortality in Critical Care) study in 2016,[4] to study genetic predisposition to a wide range of severe infections.[5] In 2020 he expanded the study[6] and used it to discover human genes that cause susceptibility to severe Covid-19[7] This discovery led directly to the finding that a new drug, baricitinib, is an effective treatment for severe Covid-19.[8][9] He discovered a further 23 genes underlying severe Covid-19 in 2021.[10]

He also played a leading role in designing, setting up and delivering the RECOVERY Trial that discovered four effective treatments for critical Covid-19. He was one of the first to systematically review the evidence for steroid treatment in Covid-19, warning of the need for trials in 2020, and contributing to the discovery that the steroid, dexamethasone, works as a highly effective treatment.[11][12] He led the UK ISARIC4C consortium,[13] which coordinated UK-wide clinical research to understand Covid-19[14]

In 2001 he led the first Apex (altitude physiology expeditions) research expedition to a high altitude laboratory in Bolivia,[15] and discovered that acute mountain sickness is two separate conditions,[16] leading to a new international consensus definition of the disease.[17]

Guidelines and Policy

He has worked with WHO on influenza, MERS, Ebola and COVID-19, conceiving and drafting a research protocol for global preparedness and harmonisation that was used for the first clinical description of COVID-19.[18] During the Covid-19 pandemic he advised the UK government on clinical management of the outbreak,[19] and advocated for public health measures to contain the pandemic.[20]

Awards and honours

Baillie is a fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences[21] and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh(FRSE). He has received several awards from the public, including the Herald newspaper's Heroes of the Year (2020)[22] and a Pride of Scotland "special recognition" award in 2021.[23] In 2022 he was awarded the University of Edinburgh Chancellor's Award for Research.[24] He is one of the ISI Highly Cited Researchers[25]

Selected publications

Scholia has a profile for John Kenneth Baillie (Q42765467).
  • Baillie J.K., Baillie J. K. (2014). "Translational Genomics. Targeting the host immune response to fight infection". Science. 344 (6186): 807–808. doi:10.1126/science.1255074. PMID 24855243.

References

  1. ^ "Study reveals gene clue to flu mystery".
  2. ^ "Five key severe COVID-19 genes found, suggesting drug targets". Reuters. 11 December 2020.
  3. ^ [1] Science news article
  4. ^ "U.K. Initiative Aims to Sequence 35,000 COVID-19 Patient Genomes; Link Genetic Makeup with Disease Severity". 14 May 2020.
  5. ^ "Sepsis hope as Edinburgh study looks to DNA for clue to survive deadly infection".
  6. ^ "Solving COVID: May 13, 2020".
  7. ^ "Covid: Genes hold clues to why some people get severely ill". BBC News. 11 December 2020.
  8. ^ "Genes May Hold Key to New Treatments for Covid-19 Infections". Forbes.
  9. ^ "Another life-saving Covid drug identified". BBC News. 3 March 2022.
  10. ^ "COVID-19: New study could lead to life-saving treatment for severe cases".
  11. ^ "How do you treat coronavirus? Here are physicians' best strategies".
  12. ^ Graham, Flora (2020). "Daily briefing: First drug shown to reduce deaths among people seriously ill with COVID-19". Nature. doi:10.1038/d41586-020-01829-0. PMID 34131342. S2CID 235451084.
  13. ^ https://isaric4c.net
  14. ^ "What Happens if I Get COVID-19 and the Flu at the Same Time?". 11 October 2022.
  15. ^ "Students head to Bolivia for altitude study".
  16. ^ https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/13153120.altitude-sickness-two-illnesses/
  17. ^ Roach, R. C.; Hackett, P. H.; Oelz, O.; Bärtsch, P.; Luks, A. M.; MacInnis, M. J.; Baillie, J. K.; Lake Louise AMS Score Consensus Committee (2018). "The 2018 Lake Louise Acute Mountain Sickness Score". High Altitude Medicine & Biology. 19 (1): 4–6. doi:10.1089/ham.2017.0164. PMC 6191821. PMID 29583031.
  18. ^ "Improving Health Through Research | the Academy of Medical Sciences".
  19. ^ "List of participants of SAGE and related sub-groups".
  20. ^ Leonhardt, David; Moses, Claire (2 November 2021). "Needless Suffering". The New York Times.
  21. ^ "Highest number of new Fellows elected to the Academy from across UK".
  22. ^ "Heroes of 2020: The men and women who shone in a year like no other".
  23. ^ "Special Recognition - Pride of Scotland Awards".
  24. ^ "Chancellor's Award winners".
  25. ^ "Highly Cited Researchers".

External links

  • [2]. J.K. Baillie online CV
Authority control databases: Academics Edit this at Wikidata
  • ORCID
  • Scopus


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