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Professor Paul Corris – an internationally renowned lung specialist from Newcastle – has been honoured with a prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award.

Bestowed by the international Pulmonary Vascular Research Institute (PVRI), the award recognises sustained outstanding clinical developments and translational research in the field of pulmonary hypertension, that has had a major impact on improved patient care on a global scale.

Professor Corris, who recently retired from both Newcastle’s Freeman Hospital and Newcastle University,received his latest accolade which follows on from the British Thoracic Society’s medal which he was presented with in December last year.

"I am thrilled and honoured to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award from the international Pulmonary Vascular Research Institute”, says Professor Corris. “To be recognised for a lifetime's work in developing improved clinical care for patients and the quality of one's research by your international Peers is very special.”

He adds: “I also recognise and acknowledge the fantastic support given to me by my colleagues in the pulmonary hypertension clinical service at Newcastle’s Freeman Hospital, and the research team based in the Faculty of Medical Sciences at Newcastle University, who continue to promote excellence in this area.”

“Finally thanks to my wife and family who have supported me throughout my career despite the many days I left the house very early and arrived home very late."

Professor Corris is a past president of both the British Thoracic Society and the International Society of Heart and Lung Transplantation as well as the PVRI.

Stephanie Barwick, Chief Executive Officer for the PVRI comments: “It is a great honour that we could present Professor Paul Corris with the PVRI Lifetime Achievement Award 2018. He is a true leader in the field and for his many outstanding achievements, he was recently presented with the British Thoracic Societies Medal in 2018.”

She added: “Paul has an unrivalled global reputation for his energy, wisdom and clarity of his thinking with an uncanny ability to bring groups together to achieve a common goal. His integrity is widely respected. We are proud to count him as one of our members and are delighted we could honour him in this way.”

During his tenure as consultant respiratory physician at the Freeman Hospital where he held the positions of Director of Cardiopulmonary Transplantation and Academic Director of the Institute of Transplantation, he played a pioneering role in developing lung transplantation from an experimental procedure to clinical mainstream, helping to establish Newcastle as a centre with an international reputation in this field.

He also played a key role in developing the Academic Department of Respiratory Medicine at Newcastle University and was fundamental to the development of the UK pulmonary hypertension service back in 2001.

Professor Corris received his Lifetime Achievement award from the President of the PRVI - Professor Paul Hassoun from Johns Hopkins Baltimore, USA - at the Gala Dinner of the Institute’s annual meeting in Barcelona.

The PVRI 13^th Annual World Congress on pulmonary vascular diseases (PVD) was held from 31 January to 2 February 2019. Over 450 delegates from 39 different countries participated in this event, including many senior academic leaders in the field, as well as countless young investigators and researchers.