Peter Rothwell is Director of the Stroke Prevention Research Unit (SPRU) and is the Action Research Professor of Neurology at Oxford University, UK. He completed his medical training and PhD at the University of Edinburgh, and has held positions at Oxford University since 1996. He founded the SPRU in 2000, which now includes about 40 permanent staff, and has trained over 50 clinical fellows.
Dr Rothwell’s main research interests include the causes of stroke, and stroke prevention, particularly after a transient ischaemic attack or minor stroke. He is also interested in how best to apply the results of clinical trials and other forms of research to clinical decisions with individual patients in routine clinical practice, as well as hypertension, and the risks and benefits of aspirin. He directs the Oxford Vascular Study and runs several other epidemiological studies, trials and international collaborations.
Dr Rothwell has published nearly 500 papers and has been the recipient of many awards, including the Foulkes Foundation Medal (Academy of Medical Sciences 2009), NIHR Senior Investigator Awards (National Institute of Health Research; 2009 & 2015), Award for Outstanding Contribution to Clinical Research (British Medical Journal 2009), President’s Biennial Award for Outstanding Contribution to Stroke Research (World Stroke Organisation 2010), Wellcome Trust Senior Investigator Award (2011), Kinmonth Medal (Royal College of Surgeons 2012), Queen’s Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education (2013), and the International Aspirin Award (2014).