Bertus Rima

MSc(Delft), PhD(McMaster 1975). FIBIOL, EASAC Biosciences Steering Panel

Professor of Molecular Biology QUB

Member ScienceElected in 2002

BERT RIMA, Member of the Royal Irish Academy and Emeritus Professor at Queen’s University Belfast.  

Born in the Netherlands and educated at Delft University of Technology (Netherlands) and McMaster University (Canada), his career took him to Queen’s, where he was appointed Professor of Molecular Biology in 1993. Using molecular biological and genetic techniques he has studied the molecular virology of paramyxoviruses and infectious diseases caused by them, especially mumps and measles virus and animal viruses such as rinderpest, canine and phocine distemper viruses. His current work centers primarily on virus evolution and persistent infection. He has extensive experience in genetic modifications of these human pathogenic viruses and the evaluation of their effects in animal model systems including ferrets and macaques. He retired in 2011.
He has published a book, over 170 refereed papers and invited reviews and over 100 conference papers. He has been member of numerous grants panels in Ireland, the UK and Europe, visiting groups, advisory panels and government advisory committees. He is still active in publishing, reviewing, editorial work and policy advice work. He has been a member of European Academies Science Advisory Council (EASAC) working groups on Gain of Function Research and Genome Editing and is currently a member of the EASAC Bioscience Steering Panel, of which he will become co-chair in 2022.