Spotlight on: Anti-obesity drugs

Professor Finer is a former professor of clinical medicine at University College London (UCL). His career is rooted in his experience as a clinical academic endocrinologist, with over three decades of experience in developing and advancing multidisciplinary obesity services across institutions such as, including Guy's, Luton, Cambridge, and University College London Hospitals (UCLH). Between 2016 and 2022, Professor Finer held the prestigious position of Senior Principal Clinical Scientist in Global Medical Affairs at Novo Nordisk in Denmark. His invaluable contributions to the field of obesity research and its associated complications have led him to assume numerous significant roles, such as serving as the former Chair of the UK Association for the Study of Obesity and the World Obesity Federation Clinical Care.

In these capacities, he played a pivotal role in the development of the Strategic Centre for Obesity Professional Education (SCOPE) educational program. Furthermore, he has actively participated in advisory groups, including the UK Government Advisory Group for Obesity, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence Public Health Advisory Group, the European Association for the Study of Obesity, and the European Society of Hypertension. In recognition of his outstanding work, Professor Finer was honoured with the Bisset Hawkins Medal in 2013. This prestigious, triennial award, bestowed by the Royal College of Physicians, recognises his tireless efforts in promoting public health. Professor Finer's dedication to his field is also evident in his election as a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians, as well as his affiliations with the US Obesity Society and the UK Association for Nutrition.

Professor Wass is a Professor of Endocrinology at Oxford University, and has previously served as the Head of the Department of Endocrinology at the Oxford Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Metabolism, located at Churchill Hospital, until 2011. He served as the Professor of Clinical Endocrinology and Sub-Dean at the University of London, at Bart's from 1989 onwards. In 1995, he founded and successfully managed the Oxfordshire Osteoporosis Service, a significant contribution to his field. Currently, Professor Wass serves as the Clinical Reference Group Chair for Endocrinology in the UK, showcasing his leadership in the medical community.

He has held the position of President of the European Federation of Endocrine Societies from 2001 to 2003 and served as the Chairman of the Society for Endocrinology from 2006 to 2009. His exceptional contributions to the field were recognised when he was awarded the Distinguished Physician of the Year Award by the American Endocrine Society, becoming the first non-American recipient of this prestigious honour. Elected as the Academic Vice President of the Royal College of Physicians in London in 2012, Professor Wass has made significant contributions to the medical community. He chaired the Royal College of Physicians Working Party, resulting in the publication of 'Action on Obesity: Comprehensive Care for All' in January 2013. Beyond his academic and administrative roles, Professor Wass is known to a broader audience through his presentation of the BBC documentary 'The Fantastical World of Hormones,' which aired in March 2014.