Leszek Borysiewicz's experience as doctor, researcher and an academic administrator has prepared him well to lead Britain's Medical Research Council (MRC). His research knowhow is bolstered by “extremely good management judgement”, says David Delpy, chief executive of the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council. See CV

After studying medicine at what is now the University of Wales, Borysiewicz went on to the Royal Postgraduate Medical School of London, where he witnessed mixed results of kidney transplants. “The kidneys were surviving, but the patients were falling foul of cytomegalovirus,” Borysiewicz says. The MRC, which had links with the school, funded him on a basic-science degree that aroused his fascination about how latent viruses could morph into pathogens.

Smitten with research, he continued as a postdoc and lecturer at the school, then went as a physician to the Gambia, which sparked an interest in global health issues. After a stint at Cambridge, he returned to his hometown of Cardiff as professor of medicine at the University of Wales. There, he assembled a large team of doctors, scientists and nurses who carried out clinical trials for a therapeutic vaccine for human papillomavirus — the first in Europe. He received a knighthood for this work in 2001.

Borysiewicz was never discouraged by negative results, says Stephen Man, who worked with him at Cardiff. “He'd use them as a new avenue for investigation,” Man says. “He was extremely enthusiastic.”

Moving to Imperial College, London, Borysiewicz climbed the administration ladder to become deputy rector. He developed a collegial relationship with Delpy, who was vice-provost for research at University College London at the time. They regularly reviewed strategies and considered how to respond to calls from the government, says Delpy. He and Borysiewicz look forward to teaming up again as chief executives, taking on major cross-council themes such as ageing, environmental change and health care.

In October, the UK government announced a boost in health-research funding. At the MRC, this will help expand translational research, which has been a contentious issue at an institution revered for its contributions to basic science. Borysiewicz says translation can now move forward without penalizing basic science.

Working on global health, interdisciplinary research and translating basic science to benefit society: it's a heady mix. “I can't think of a more exciting job,” says Borysiewicz.