After obtaining an intercalated B.Sc. Hon - First Classin Medical Sciences in 1970, I qualified in Medicine from the University of Edinburgh in 1972 and gained Membership of the Royal Colleges of Physicians of the United Kingdom in 1975.  

I was awarded a Medical Research Council Clinical Research Fellowship with Professor D.T. Baird C.B.E., at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Edinburgh 1977 -1979 during which he performed clinical and laboratory research in oestrogen in males and mechanisms of puberty development leading to the award of an MD in 1983.

After completing specialty clinical training in Edinburgh in endocrinology, diabetes and general medicine, I undertook post-doctoral research in testicular physiology at Monash University, Melbourne Australia with Professor David de Kretser. On Returning to Edinburgh, I was appointed Clinical Scientist and Consultant Andrologist at the MRC Reproductive Biology Unit where I developed a research programme on hormonal male contraception and undertook seminal work in the neuroendocrine control of pubertal onset.

I was appointed Senior Lecturer in Medicine (Endocrinology), Department of Medicine, University of Manchester in 1994 and subsequently promoted to a Personal Chair as Professor of Medicine and Endocrinology in 2003. 

Recently listed amongst Britain’s 100Top Doctors (Times Newspaper November 2010), I am acknowledged as an international leader in the field of Endocrinology and androgens.

The overall aim of my research is to advance the understanding of the physiological control of testicular functions with the specific clinical objectives of providing:

i) Acceptable new reversible methods of male contraception

ii) Improved diagnosis and management of male hypogonadism (low testosterone levels) & infertility

iii) Better management of disordered sexual development and

iv) Improved quality of life in ageing men.

My research encompasses the full spectrum of basic to applied clinical aspects of male reproductive functions. I was instrumental in translating results of public sector research on hormonal male contraception to industrial product development resulting in two major international pharmaceutical companies forming a joint development programme in this novel method of fertility regulation for men. My most recent research focus has shifted from reproductive physiology and fertility control to endocrine ageing in men. I lead the largest multi-centre (8 centre European Male Ageing Study EMAS) longitudinal cohort study on the health of ageing in men in the world. (http://www.emas.man.ac.uk/main.asp) My research output has been consistently maintained at the forefront of the field internationally for the last 20 years as evidenced by external grant income, publications, and invited lectures.

• 2010 – 2013: Member of the Annual Meeting Steering Committee, Endocrine Society.
• 2010 – 2014: Chairperson of Accreditation Committee, European Academy of Andrology.
• 2006 – 2010: President, European Academy of Andrology.
• 1997 – 2006: Chairman of Examination Committee for the Diploma for Clinical Andrology, European Academy of Andrology.
• 1997 – present: Member of Executive Council, European Academy of Andrology.
• 1994 – 2001: Treasurer, International Society of Andrology.
• 1992 - present: Member of the Steering Committee, Task Force on the Regulation of Male Fertility, World Health Organisation Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Teaching in Human Reproduction.
• 1997 - present: Founding Member and member of Executive Council of the International Society for the Study of the Ageing Male.
• 1997 – 1999: Member of the Clinical Committee, Society for Endocrinology.

B.Sc. Hons (First Class) (Edin)  

M.B., Ch.B. (Edin)     

M.R.C.P. (U.K.)                 

Accreditation for Higher Specialist Training in General Medicine, Endocrinology

and Diabetes (Royal Colleges of Physicians)        

M.D. (Edin)  

F.R.C.P. (Edin) 

F.R.C.P. (Lond)