Stuart H Ralston was born in Glasgow, Scotland and trained in Medicine at Glasgow University. He graduated in 1978 and undertook postgraduate training in General Medicine, Endocrinology and Rheumatology and obtained the higher degree of MD in 1987.  He gained experience in laboratory research at the University of Edinburgh during a Wellcome Trust funded senior fellowship between 1989 and 1990 and was appointed as a Senior Lecturer in Medicine at the University of Aberdeen in 1991. He received promotion to Professor of Medicine and Bone Metabolism in Aberdeen in 1996 and served as the inaugural director of the Institute of Medical Sciences at Aberdeen between 2002 and 2005.  He then relocated to the University of Edinburgh where he holds the chair of Rheumatology. He was head of the School of Molecular and Clinical Medicine between 2005 and 2012 and founding director of Edinburgh Clinical Trials unit between 2007 and 2016. Professor Ralston is a practicing clinician and holds an honorary contract as a consultant rheumatologist in NHS Lothian, and is currently clinical director of the rheumatology service and clinical lead for the osteoporosis service.

Professor Ralston had has made numerous contributions to preclinical research focused on understanding the pathophysiology and genetic basis of bone. During the past 10 years, his research has focused on the genetic basis of various bone diseases; the role of the endocannabinoid system in bone metabolism and on the pathogenesis and management of Paget’s disease of bone. His contributions to research have been recognised by his peers through several awards including the Laurence Raisz Award from the ASBMR in 2014, the Mike Horton Award from the ECTS in 2012; the Harold Copp Award from the IBMS in 2011 and the John B Johnston award of the Paget foundation in 2005, the Michael Mason Prize of the British Society of Rheumatology in 1997 and the Fitzgerald-Peel Prize of the Scottish Society of Physicians in 1986. He was elected as a fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 2005; a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences in 1999 and as a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh in 1994. He was elected as an honorary Fellow of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Medicine in 2017.

Professor Ralston also has a keen interest in medical education. He has supervised 18 PhD and 2 MD students during his career and was lead for undergraduate teaching of rheumatology at the University of Edinburgh between 2005 and 2012. He is founding director of the online learning MSc programme in clinical trials and is director of the Edinburgh Clinical Trials Management course.  He has previously served as an associate editor of the European Journal of Endocrinology and Endocrinology and served on the editorial board of Bone and the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research. He is joint Editor-in- Chief of Calcified Tissue International - a position he has held since 2000. He has been a chapter author of Davidson’s Principles and Practice of Medicine since the 20thedition and has been editor and author for the 21st - 23rd editions.

Professor Ralston has been Chair of the Commission for Human Medicines (CHM) since 2013. The CHM is an advisory non-departmental government body which advised ministers on the safety, efficacy and quality of medicinal products. Prior to his appointment as CHM Chair be was a member of CHM and has served as a member of several expert advisory groups on biologicals, clinical trials and gastroenterology, rheumatology, immunology and dermatology. He also has acted as chair or member of several special advisory groups (SAG) to the European Medicines Agency.

Professor Ralston has several interests outside of work. He is married with four grown up children and two grandchildren. In his younger day he was a keen rock climber and mountaineer and he still enjoys getting out onto the Scottish hills for walking, skiing and snowboarding.  He is a dedicated Munro Bagger and completed all 284 hills on the list in 2013 (Munros are mountains in Scotland more than 3000 feet high).  He is also a keen cyclist and when he is not getting out and about there is nothing he likes better than getting his guitar out and having a jam session with friends. Recently he has become the proud owner of a new puppy called Maisie. She is too young to get out at present but he hopes she will accompany him up some Munros in the future.

Last modified: Friday, 1 May 2020, 1:19 PM