About Robert Winston

Professor Lord Robert Winston is the President’s Envoy for Outreach, Professor of Science and Society and Emeritus Professor of Fertility Studies at Imperial College London.

Professor Winston is a world-renowned expert in fertility, reproductive biology and early pregnancy. He pioneered new treatments for in vitro fertilisation (IVF) and developed pre-implantation diagnosis that screen embryos for genetic diseases. He runs a College research programme at the Institute of Reproductive and Developmental Biology designed to understand human embryo metabolism. Professor Winston is also Chairman of the Genesis Research Trust, funding research into women’s health and babies. Committed to scientific education and outreach, he has written over 300 scientific publications and numerous popular books and appeared in award-winning TV programmes. In 2010, he established the College’s Reach Out Lab, for school children to experience practical science.

Professor Winston has seven fellowships and honorary fellowships, including those from the Academy of Medical Sciences and the Royal Academy of Engineering. He is Vice-chairman of the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology and was made a life peer in 1995.

Professor Winston is Chairman of the Genesis Research Trust (Reg. Charity No. 292518) which promotes better health for women and babies. The Trust raised £13 million to build and equip the most advanced research centre in Europe for Reproductive and Developmental Biology.

The Trust’s Women for Women campaign also raises money to train women scientists and clinicians at the Wolfson and Weston Research Centre for Family Health at Imperial College London.

The centre’s aim is to improve the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of a range of devastating conditions affecting women and their babies, including brain injury, miscarriage, infertility, cancer and genetic diseases.

Robert Winston is Professor of Science and Society at Imperial College and Emeritus Professor of Fertility Studies. He runs a research programme at the Institute of Reproductive and Developmental Biology based at the Hammersmith Hospital Campus. The key focus is transgenic and gamete biology. His work on the South Kensington Campus includes research into education, particularly in school children, outreach and public engagement activities.

Professor Winston was Chairman of the governing body of the Royal College of Music until 2017. There is a strong commitment to rigorous standards of instrumental playing, and the Opera School based in its Britten Theatre is acknowledged as a leader in vocal musicianship. The College has a particularly fine library, an important instrument collection, and a particular interest in the science of music. Appointing a scientist to chair the Council is true to the original intention of Prince Albert, whose vision, nicknamed Albertopolis, was to create an area in London where the arts and sciences could interact.

Robert Winston is on the board of trustees of this Foundation, which funds research work in stem cell biology with a translational application. Current strong interests include heart disease, joint and skeletal problems and nerve repair.

Started by Professor Winston, this project encourages children of all ages to do experimental science within one of Europe’s leading universities. A state-of-the-art lab at Imperial College London allows primary and secondary school children to do practical science, encouraging science literacy and inspiring more young people to consider a career in science. The lab is also used to train science teachers.