It is with deep sadness that we say goodbye to Professor Chris Redman who was a Fellow ad eundum of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and a dear colleague.
Chris Redman was a global pioneer in maternity care. His research into pre-eclampsia was seminal to our understanding of the disease. From 1970, Chris investigated the pathogenesis, detection, prevention, and treatment of pre-eclampsia. He pioneered the concept of the systemic inflammatory response role in both normal pregnancy and the clinical stages of pre-eclampsia. He led ground-breaking work on the role of extracellular vesicles in the pathogenesis of the disease and most recently, he was engaged in a trial on selenium supplementation to help prevent pre-eclampsia.
Chris moved as a University Lecturer and Consultant in Obstetric Medicine to what was the Nuffield Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, in 1976; and became a Clinical Professor in 1992. His determination, innovative thinking, and willingness to challenge the status quo were instrumental in its success. Chris worked tirelessly, always available to offer advice, and he trained and mentored hundreds of doctors.
Chris also conducted clinical trials, developed new theories and oversaw pioneering bench research into placental physiology, and immunology of the maternal-fetal interface. Together with Professor Geoffrey Dawes, an expert in fetal physiology, he developed a ‘computerised’ system of interpreting fetal heart rate monitoring, the Dawes Redman System. This is used in the NHS and in over 130 countries worldwide.
Whilst Chris was not a ‘surgical’ obstetrician he had a unique insight into medical problems common to pregnancy, and was key in setting up a dedicated maternal medicine unit in Oxford’s John Radcliffe Hospital’, The Silver Star Unit which still thrives today. This required ingenuity and determination, as well as fighting for funding; Chris himself ran 10 marathons to raise funds for the unit. He was well known by all, for his gentle manner and good humour and for working ridiculously long hours, always on hand for advice and support.
Tributes to Chris have come from all over the world and illustrate his enormous international impact. Many speak of his generous willingness to share his knowledge with young or established researchers, without being restricted by geographical distance, nationality, educational background, gender or research position. When asked, many experts in the field cite Chris as having the strongest influence on their careers and providing a unique support.
Chris initiated several “Think Tanks” that inspired new thinking as well as research and clinical development within important fields of fetomaternal medicine, and in particular hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. His contribution to establishing “Tox Talk” meetings every second year in California and “Colab” meetings in Oxford each second year, provided important meeting places for the development of new thinking for researchers across the world.
Thousands of women and their babies worldwide have benefited directly from Chris’s expertise and unwavering commitment to excellence and inclusive care.
Our condolences go to Corinna and their extended family, for the loss of a unique and much-loved man.
We are all deeply saddened by the passing/ loss of a great colleague and friend, but we are immensely proud to have had the privilege of knowing or working with Chris over his long and illustrious career.