George Pickering Professor of Stroke Medicine

Location: John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, OX3 9DU 

The University of Oxford is seeking to appoint the George Pickering Professor of Stroke Medicine, a highly prestigious position within the Radcliffe Department of Medicine (RDM). As the George Pickering Professor, you will contribute scientific strategic direction and senior academic leadership to RDM and more widely to Oxford Medicine.

The ideal candidate will have an outstanding research record of international stature in translational science or experimental medicine related to stroke medicine, with a focus on acute stroke. There is also a particular interest in experimental therapies identified through integration of advanced imaging techniques and omic platforms to enhance patient stratification; and big data initiatives. The research you lead will aim to understand how disease mechanisms can be rapidly translated into therapeutic opportunities. 

Your research in stroke may link with a broad range of clinical sub-specialties, including cardiovascular, metabolic medicine, haematology, immunology and inflammatory diseases, imaging, biomedical engineering or data science imaging, acute stroke treatment and intervention. You will be strongly committed to the recruitment, training and mentoring of the next generation of researchers in the area. 

This post is available as either a clinical or a non-clinical position. For a clinically-qualified and active applicant, the role may include clinical activities in stroke medicine as an Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (OUH) Honorary Consultant, aligning with research activities, and in conjunction with OUH NHS stroke physicians and clinical lead. 

As the Pickering Chair you will be pivotal to connecting discovery science in RDM (including the MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine and other RDM divisions) with related activities in other departments in the Medical Sciences Division (MSD) and the Mathematical, Physical and Life Sciences Division, and with translational activities in the NIHR Biomedical Research Centres in Oxford and other related programmes. You will take a complementary approach to other relevant professorial posts and developments in MSD, including the Wolfson Centre for the Prevention of Stroke and Dementia, in the Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences. Maintaining and expanding partnerships with industry, and engaging with current and emerging trends, is also a priority. 

The ideal candidate will possess a compelling vision for the advancement of stroke medicine over the next 10-15 years and the strategic leadership skills to drive this vision forward. A demonstrated history of innovative, collaborative research with national and international impact, is essential. 

The Radcliffe Department of Medicine embraces diversity and inclusion in their recruitment campaigns and would welcome applications from candidates currently underrepresented in senior roles in the University, particularly women, candidates from minority ethnic backgrounds and disabled candidates with diverse backgrounds. The University of Oxford actively promotes and supports flexible working across sites. We can offer flexibility in the schedule and terms of the number of hours worked.

Please submit applications through the WittKieffer Candidate Portal via the above 'Apply' button.

Queries about the post, and how to apply, should be addressed to Natalie Derry, nderry@wittkieffer.com, +44 (0)740 8851596 or Sarah Sayer, ssayer@wittkieffer.com +44 (0)740 880 3678. All enquiries will be treated in strict confidence; they will not form part of the selection decision.

Applications close at midday on Friday 4th December 2026.

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