Chief Scientific Officer for Scotland visit marks Healthcare Science Week

Professor Catherine Ross, Chief Scientific Officer for Scotland, visited Glasgow Caledonian University's School of Health and Life Sciences (SHLS) yesterday (March 11) to mark Healthcare Science Week.

She was warmly welcomed by SHLS Dean Professor Anita Simmers, Head of the Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences Professor Linda Scobie and Deputy Head Dr Janice Taylor, who gave her a tour of the Department's facilities, and introduced her to staff and students.

Professor Ross was also given a tour of the teaching and research laboratories, the specialist Skin Research Tissue Bank and the state-of-the-art Cell-Signalling and Bio-Imaging Unit, where she met leading scientists and found out more about how their research is changing and improving lives across Scotland and beyond.

Professor Simmers said: "We were delighted to welcome Professor Catherine Ross to the University during Healthcare Science Week.

"As a University that delivers more than 25% of the NHS workforce in Scotland, Glasgow Caledonian has a long and proud history of producing healthcare scientists.

"It is important to recognise and celebrate the contribution healthcare science makes to the NHS, from diagnosis to treatment, clinical innovation and public health prevention, their work is essential for patient care.

"We look forward to working collaboratively with the Chief Scientific Officer for Scotland to ensure curricular development is innovative, embracing change to create a sustainable and resilient workforce for the future."

Healthcare Science Week is an annual week-long programme designed to promote and celebrate the amazing work of Healthcare Science professionals. The aim is to raise awareness of the wide range of careers and roles within Healthcare Science, highlighting the difference they all make to patients' lives.

Professor Ross said: "It was great to meet with to the fantastic team and students in the Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences at Glasgow Caledonian University, as part of Healthcare Science week 2025. The facilities at the University are incredible and I'd like to thank the team at GCU for the passion shown both in the delivery of the education to our future workforce and the research to improve patient outcomes in the future."

Biological and Biomedical Science subjects have been taught at Glasgow Caledonian University for more than forty years and the Department has a history of success in producing high-quality graduates who are sought after by employers in both academic, clinical and industrial settings.

The Department was instrumental in the introduction of the integrated degree in Biomedical Science and was one of the first universities in Scotland to provide this degree. To date, the department offers the only Biomedical Science course with practice placement in Glasgow that is approved by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and accredited by the Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS).