Richard Eastell
Encyclopedia
Richard Eastell MD, FRCP (London, Edinburgh, Ireland), FRCPath, FMedSci (born 12 February 1953) is a British medical doctor and Professor of Bone Metabolism at the University of Sheffield
. He was born in Shipley (West Yorkshire) and attended the Salt Grammar School, later graduating from the University of Edinburgh in 1977 and achieved prominence as an expert in osteoporosis
.
to study osteoporosis
at the University of Edinburgh
in 1978. He furthered his clinical research training by working at the Mayo Clinic under the supervision of Dr B L Riggs where he worked for five years. Eastell developed a number of new approaches for studying osteoporosis while at the Mayo Clinic
including the use of stable (non-radioactive) isotopes to measure the absorption of calcium from food, the use an infusion technique to measure the production of the active form of vitamin D, the measurement of bone density
at the site in the wrist where fractures commonly occur (the ultradistal radius) and a height ratio approach to identifying vertebral fractures on radiographs of the spine. He began his training in endocrinology
and diabetes at the Western General Hospital in Edinburgh in 1980 and continued it at Northwick Park Hospital in Harrow in 1982 and at the Mayo Clinic in 1987.
He joined the Department of Human Metabolism and Clinical Biochemistry at the University of Sheffield in 1989 as a Senior Research Fellow and Honorary Consultant. He set up a metabolic bone service at the Northern General Hospital. He became Professor of Bone Metabolism in 1995 and he received funding from the Arthritis Research Campaign to use biochemical tests of bone turnover to better understand the way in which older men and women develop osteoporosis and propensity to fracture. His studies on the cause, diagnosis, prevention and treatment of osteoporosis have been conducted with the support of many colleagues; he has supervised the study for higher degree of 36 scientists and doctors over the past 20 years.
Eastell has been president of the Bone Research Society and chairman of the board of trustees of the National Osteoporosis Society in the UK, and by his presidency of the European Calcified Tissue Society. He has published over 320 articles on metabolic bone diseases.
Eastell is currently director of the National Institute for Health Research’s Bone Biomedical Research Unit, based at the Northern General Hospital in Sheffield. He became a NIHR Senior Investigator in 2009. Some of his recent contributions have been authorship on key commercially sponsored papers describing new treatments for osteoporosis, such tibolone, zoledronic acid, denosumab and lasofoxifene as well as addressing key issues about safety of medications and provide guidelines to diagnose primary hyperparathyroidism, a common disorder resulting in high levels of blood calcium.
drug Actonel (used to treat osteoporosis
). The report established that the analysis for the trial had been carried out by Procter & Gamble and that Eastell did not in fact have complete access to the data. Eastell wrote a letter in 2007 to the editors of the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research, where the paper in question was published in 2003, accepting that he had not disclosed limitations on data access as required by the journal and acknowledging certain errors in the paper. At a General Medical Council
"fitness to practice" hearing in November 2009, it was determined that Eastell's actions had not been "deliberately misleading or dishonest", although he may have been negligent in making "untrue" and "misleading" declarations; the council did not make a finding of misconduct.
The THEs report on Eastell was in part the result of whistleblowing by another Sheffield academic, Aubrey Blumsohn, who was initially suspended by the university and subsequently left the university with a "six-figure" payout. Other bone medicine academics, speaking on BBC Radio 4
's programme "You and Yours", took the view that the paper in question had overstated the effectiveness of the drug.
Eastell resigned as director of research at Sheffield National Health Service
Trust in 2006 after allegations of "financial irregularities" related to charging the NHS for laboratory tests in connection with his university research. His resignation followed suspension by the NHS when the allegations were made in May 2005.
In 2010 Eastell was involved in a further dispute with a colleague over a clinical trial and the right of that colleague to present commercially sensitive data.
University of Sheffield
The University of Sheffield is a research university based in the city of Sheffield in South Yorkshire, England. It is one of the original 'red brick' universities and is a member of the Russell Group of leading research intensive universities...
. He was born in Shipley (West Yorkshire) and attended the Salt Grammar School, later graduating from the University of Edinburgh in 1977 and achieved prominence as an expert in osteoporosis
Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is a disease of bones that leads to an increased risk of fracture. In osteoporosis the bone mineral density is reduced, bone microarchitecture is deteriorating, and the amount and variety of proteins in bone is altered...
.
Professional life
Eastell received a clinical fellowship from the Medical Research CouncilMedical Research Council (UK)
The Medical Research Council is a publicly-funded agency responsible for co-ordinating and funding medical research in the United Kingdom. It is one of seven Research Councils in the UK and is answerable to, although politically independent from, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills...
to study osteoporosis
Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is a disease of bones that leads to an increased risk of fracture. In osteoporosis the bone mineral density is reduced, bone microarchitecture is deteriorating, and the amount and variety of proteins in bone is altered...
at the University of Edinburgh
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a public research university located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university...
in 1978. He furthered his clinical research training by working at the Mayo Clinic under the supervision of Dr B L Riggs where he worked for five years. Eastell developed a number of new approaches for studying osteoporosis while at the Mayo Clinic
Mayo Clinic
Mayo Clinic is a not-for-profit medical practice and medical research group specializing in treating difficult patients . Patients are referred to Mayo Clinic from across the U.S. and the world, and it is known for innovative and effective treatments. Mayo Clinic is known for being at the top of...
including the use of stable (non-radioactive) isotopes to measure the absorption of calcium from food, the use an infusion technique to measure the production of the active form of vitamin D, the measurement of bone density
Bone density
Bone density is a medical term normally referring to the amount of mineral matter per square centimeter of bones. Bone density is used in clinical medicine as an indirect indicator of osteoporosis and fracture risk.This medical bone density is not the true physical "density" of the bone, which...
at the site in the wrist where fractures commonly occur (the ultradistal radius) and a height ratio approach to identifying vertebral fractures on radiographs of the spine. He began his training in endocrinology
Endocrinology
Endocrinology is a branch of biology and medicine dealing with the endocrine system, its diseases, and its specific secretions called hormones, the integration of developmental events such as proliferation, growth, and differentiation and the coordination of...
and diabetes at the Western General Hospital in Edinburgh in 1980 and continued it at Northwick Park Hospital in Harrow in 1982 and at the Mayo Clinic in 1987.
He joined the Department of Human Metabolism and Clinical Biochemistry at the University of Sheffield in 1989 as a Senior Research Fellow and Honorary Consultant. He set up a metabolic bone service at the Northern General Hospital. He became Professor of Bone Metabolism in 1995 and he received funding from the Arthritis Research Campaign to use biochemical tests of bone turnover to better understand the way in which older men and women develop osteoporosis and propensity to fracture. His studies on the cause, diagnosis, prevention and treatment of osteoporosis have been conducted with the support of many colleagues; he has supervised the study for higher degree of 36 scientists and doctors over the past 20 years.
Eastell has been president of the Bone Research Society and chairman of the board of trustees of the National Osteoporosis Society in the UK, and by his presidency of the European Calcified Tissue Society. He has published over 320 articles on metabolic bone diseases.
Eastell is currently director of the National Institute for Health Research’s Bone Biomedical Research Unit, based at the Northern General Hospital in Sheffield. He became a NIHR Senior Investigator in 2009. Some of his recent contributions have been authorship on key commercially sponsored papers describing new treatments for osteoporosis, such tibolone, zoledronic acid, denosumab and lasofoxifene as well as addressing key issues about safety of medications and provide guidelines to diagnose primary hyperparathyroidism, a common disorder resulting in high levels of blood calcium.
Controversies
Eastell was the subject of a 2005 report in the Times Higher Education concerning allegations that he had incorrectly claimed to have had full access to data for a trial of the Procter & GambleProcter & Gamble
Procter & Gamble is a Fortune 500 American multinational corporation headquartered in downtown Cincinnati, Ohio and manufactures a wide range of consumer goods....
drug Actonel (used to treat osteoporosis
Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is a disease of bones that leads to an increased risk of fracture. In osteoporosis the bone mineral density is reduced, bone microarchitecture is deteriorating, and the amount and variety of proteins in bone is altered...
). The report established that the analysis for the trial had been carried out by Procter & Gamble and that Eastell did not in fact have complete access to the data. Eastell wrote a letter in 2007 to the editors of the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research, where the paper in question was published in 2003, accepting that he had not disclosed limitations on data access as required by the journal and acknowledging certain errors in the paper. At a General Medical Council
General Medical Council
The General Medical Council registers and regulates doctors practising in the United Kingdom. It has the power to revoke or restrict a doctor's registration if it deems them unfit to practise...
"fitness to practice" hearing in November 2009, it was determined that Eastell's actions had not been "deliberately misleading or dishonest", although he may have been negligent in making "untrue" and "misleading" declarations; the council did not make a finding of misconduct.
The THEs report on Eastell was in part the result of whistleblowing by another Sheffield academic, Aubrey Blumsohn, who was initially suspended by the university and subsequently left the university with a "six-figure" payout. Other bone medicine academics, speaking on BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
's programme "You and Yours", took the view that the paper in question had overstated the effectiveness of the drug.
Eastell resigned as director of research at Sheffield National Health Service
National Health Service
The National Health Service is the shared name of three of the four publicly funded healthcare systems in the United Kingdom. They provide a comprehensive range of health services, the vast majority of which are free at the point of use to residents of the United Kingdom...
Trust in 2006 after allegations of "financial irregularities" related to charging the NHS for laboratory tests in connection with his university research. His resignation followed suspension by the NHS when the allegations were made in May 2005.
In 2010 Eastell was involved in a further dispute with a colleague over a clinical trial and the right of that colleague to present commercially sensitive data.
Awards and honours
- Young Investigator Award, American Society for Bone and Mineral Research, 1988
- Randall G. Sprague Award for outstanding achievement as a subspecialty trainee in Endocrinology, Mayo Clinic, 1989
- Hospital Doctor of the Year (Osteoporosis Category), 1997
- Corrigan Lecturer, Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, 1998
- Kroc Visiting Professor in Endocrinology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA, 1999
- Member of MRC’s Physiological Medicine and Infections Board, 2002 to 2006
- Visiting Professor in Endocrinology, University of Pittsburgh, PA, USA, 2002
- Queen’s Anniversary Award team from the University of Sheffield, 2003
- Kohn Award, National Osteoporosis Society, 2004
- Society for Endocrinology Medal, 2004
- PathWest Visiting Lecturer, Perth, Australia, 2005
- Who’s Who, 2007
- NIHR Senior Investigator Award 2009
External links
- Academic Unit of Bone Metabolism
- Metabolic Bone Centre
- Bone Research Society
- National Osteoporosis Society
- European Calcified Tissue Society
- ScienceWatch.com, Top 20 Institutions, Osteoporosis
- The Mellanby Centre at the University of Sheffield
- The Bone Biomedical Research Unit in Sheffield
- Collection of links to press articles on Actonel affair