Robert Stockley - Biography#

I qualified in Medicine in 1966. Obtained my doctorate in medicine in 1975 and my Doctorate in Science in 1978.

My clinical career was a full time NHS consultant in General and respiratory medicine during which I established the clinical and academic departments of Respiratory disease For the University Hospital Birmingham and University of Birmingham. I had several Directorship roles in medicine and R&D locally, for the region and Nationally and Internationally and currently continue as research advisor, higher degree supervisor and mentor.

I was an MRC research fellow in the Birmingham University department of medicine 1972 - 1975 and lecturer in medicine 1975 - 1979.

Appointed as a consultant physician in General and respiratory medicine in the university hospital Birmingham 1979 and Senior lecturer in the university of Birmingham, becoming honorary professor in medicine University of Birmingham 1997.

I established The University respiratory research group in 1978 funded by External grants (MRC/Chest heart and Stroke/British Lung foundation and several subsequent European grants) supervising over 50 higher degrees and 10 Professors.The group ranked in the top 20 COPD groups internationally and top 10 for publications in the 2000s.

I have sat on many National and International research and clinical care committees as member, chair, Director and served on the Board and Scientific committee of the International GOLD committee for 15 years ending in June 2025.

I have served on Multiple journal editorial boards and acted as both PI and CI for multiple phase 2 and 3 clinical trials and as chair of several DSMB for recent ongoing trials. I continue peer reviewing for up to 6 papers/month for multiple major journals
I established and chaired both the National and International registries for Alpha 1Antitrypsin Deficiency and still serve on the scientific committee.

In 1998 I established the first International conference in Birmingham dedicated to COPD which was held biennially until 2018 since when many National and International meetings dedicated to COPD have been established and funded by respective National Respiratory Societies in collaboration with the pharmaceutical industry.