Stroke Physician Professor Peter Langhorne wins prestigious Marjory Warren Lifetime Achievement Award 

Peter Langhorne, Emeritus Professor of the University of Glasgow, has been awarded the British Geriatrics Society’s prestigious Marjory Warren Lifetime Achievement Award for his research which has led to important changes in stroke and geriatric medicine internationally. Professor Langhorne was selected by the Society’s Board of Trustees which includes healthcare professionals from across the UK. 

Professor Langhorne’s illustrious career spans four decades, commencing in 1981 when he trained in geriatric and general medicine. He was appointed Senior Lecturer and Honorary Consultant in the Academic Section of Geriatric Medicine at the University of Glasgow in 1994, was promoted to Personal Chair in 2001 and, most recently, was appointed Emeritus Professor in 2020. 

Professor Langhorne’s world-renowned research has focused on evidence-based stroke management and Geriatric Medicine services. From 2010 to 2020, he was the Coordinating Editor of Cochrane Stroke, which prepares and maintains systematic reviews and is the premier source of information about the effects of stroke treatments. He initiated and led several high-profile collaborative projects evaluating complex interventions for older stroke patients. Professor Langhorne’s positive impact on older people’s healthcare also encompasses stroke rehabilitation and he was the UK’s Chief Investigator of international multicentre trials of early rehabilitation, A Very Early Rehabilitation trial; AVERT. 

While much of Professor Langhorne’s research work has focused on improving healthcare for older stroke patients, he has always viewed this as a paradigm of the ‘geriatric model’ of practice which he has advocated in stroke medicine. He has therefore had a leading role in promoting clinical best practice as championed by the BGS, for example, the increased use of comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA). Professor Langhorne has had over 300 papers published in various scientific journals and this work has gone on to underpin many clinical practice guidelines including those produced by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), the Royal College of Physicians and the BGS itself. 

Upon winning the award Professor Peter Langhorne commented: 

Geriatric Medicine has been my cultural home for many years, so it is a great honour to receive the Society’s Marjory Warren Lifetime Achievement Award. Despite the recent dramatic developments in hyperacute stroke treatment, the geriatric multidisciplinary model of care remains essential for the comprehensive management of most stroke patients. I am convinced that Geriatric and Stroke Medicine will continue to enjoy close development for years to come.”

Dr Jennifer Burns, President of the British Geriatrics Society, commented:

I am delighted to announce that Professor Peter Langhorne has been selected for this prestigious BGS award. He is a worthy winner as he is universally respected for his lifetime of work in the speciality. Though a modest man, he is held in high esteem by friends and colleagues alike and has been a mentor and role model to many researchers and clinicians over the years. His legacy in stroke service development and research is immense, making a real difference to the care delivered to stroke patients.”