Professor Sir John Bell steps down as the first President of the Ellison Institute of Technology

Sir John Bell has decided to step down from the Ellison Institute of Technology in Oxford. The Institute was established two years ago as a new model for solving the world’s great challenges using science and engineering. Built on a single campus in Oxford, it was created to bring the world's best scientists together across multiple domains to help identify sustainable commercial solutions to global problems. 

Sir John, who was previously Regius Professor of Medicine in Oxford, was asked to lead the Institute during this phase. Recruiting the best scientists and identifying the most important and transformational programs has been part of the endeavour since he joined. He now steps down from EIT leaving the Institute with an outstanding group of scientists and a set of programs taking on challenging problems in healthcare, food security, generative biology and AI and robotics. 

Sir John said:

“This has been a very challenging project as no one has attempted to create such a vehicle for sustainable innovation before. I think we have done a very good job in identifying programs and bringing in the best scientists to tackle them. I’m happy now to pass the next phase of the Institute on to Dr. Santa J. Ono and wish all at EIT every success”.

Larry Ellison, Founder of EIT, said:

“Over the past year and a half, Sir John Bell has guided EIT through its formative stages. His efforts, especially in establishing the landmark collaboration agreement with the University of Oxford, laid the foundation for the Institute. Sir John then went on to recruit a brilliant group of scientists, who will lead EIT into the future. I am deeply grateful for his vision and his commitment. All of us have benefitted from having such a distinguished scientist at the helm during these early years.” 

Dr. Santa Ono, who was previously President and Vice-Chancellor of University of British Columbia and University of Michigan and was asked to serve as Global President of EIT said:

“I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to Sir John for the pivotal role he played in EIT’s early development. His foresight, dedication and guidance - especially in forging the collaboration with the University of Oxford - have shaped the institute in lasting ways, and we remain deeply appreciative of his contributions.”