DAME CAROL BLACK DBE FRCP
When Professor Black established the Department of Rheumatology at The Royal Free Hospital she assembled a multi-professional team to provide a comprehensive specialist service linked closely to research. The Unit maintains close links with the groups of patients it serves - for example the annual family day for patients [adults and children] with Scleroderma, which has been held at the Royal Free Hospital for the last ten years
The research unit has been developed in an attempt to tackle uncommon connective tissue diseases ie Scleroderma. At the Royal Free basic and clinical research is integrated, with a strong emphasis on translational research.
The essential research aim is to unravel the genesis of the destructive fibrotic response in Scleroderma, which might also help us understand related diseases such as Sclerosis and Pulmonary Fibrosis. The unit has become the major one
of its kind in Europe and is respected internationally. The distinction of the staff members, the research grants commanded, and research output are testimony to the reputation of the whole unit.
Teaching is also an important part of the Unit. Teaching is to both undergraduates and postgraduates. In two of the last four years undergraduates have voted the teaching programme of the Rheumatology department the best in the Royal Free & University College Medical School.
The Unit believes in spreading good practice in the care of patients with Scleroderma and related disorders. They have set up teaching clinics around the United Kingdom and now hold twenty clinics each year.
In addition they organise a bi-annual teaching seminar on the clinical management of patients with these difficult conditions. For the past 20 years, in conjunction with American colleagues, they have also run a bi-annual international research symposium.
Until Summer 2006 Dame Carol was President of the Royal College of Physicians.