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John Fuller was a much-revered Emeritus Professor of Clinical Epidemiology at University College London, UK. His path to epidemiology, like so many, was not straightforward. His first degree, in 1960, was in physics from St Catherine’s College, Oxford. In 1964 he went to work as a computer scientist on diabetes research with Harry Keen at Guy’s Hospital, London and, while there, was inspired to undertake a medical degree. He was accepted into Charing Cross Hospital Medical School in London (sadly setting aside his first choice, St Thomas’s Hospital, which required an impressive answer to the question, ‘which regiment did your father belong to?’). He qualified in 1969 and, soon after, returned to work with Harry as a Medical Research Council Research Fellow at Guy’s Hospital. In 1977 he moved to the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine as a Senior Research Fellow, working on the first Whitehall study of civil servants with the internationally recognised cardiovascular epidemiologist, Geoffrey Rose, before establishing his own diabetes research group at University College London in 1984.

One of John’s many gifts was the ability to establish and maintain major international collaborations in observational epidemiology and clinical trials. This reflected his humanity and uncanny ability to bring people together and defuse any disagreements or tense moments with humour.

Bolstered by John’s warm friendship and support, numerous major studies that he initiated or in which he participated, flourished. These included the WHO Multinational Study of Vascular Disease in Diabetes, working with the ‘father of diabetes epidemiology’, Kelly West. Subsequently over 30 clinical centres across Europe happily collaborated with him on EURODIAB, one of the largest studies of people with type 1 diabetes, with around 3000 participants, established in 1990. Despite a shoe-string budget, his European friends still found the time, staff and money to collect and analyse data, and to vie with each other to host the most memorable collaborator meetings.

His observation of the importance of blood pressure in the development of diabetes complications led to the creation of the EURODIAB Controlled Trial of Lisinopril in Insulin-Dependent Diabetes (EUCLID), again supported by his European network of collaborators. This trial reported beneficial effects of ACE inhibitors in the early stages of diabetic nephropathy and, more surprisingly, diabetic retinopathy. This latter finding formed the basis of the Diabetic Retinopathy Candesartan Trials (DIRECT), a suite of trials exploring the effects of angiotensin receptor blockade in both the prevention and treatment of diabetic retinopathy. Findings from his final major clinical trial, the Collaborative Atorvastatin Diabetes Study (CARDS), again a multinational collaboration, informed international guidelines on the value of statins for primary prevention of cardiovascular disease in people with diabetes. This body of work extended many lives.

John supported and mentored many junior, and indeed senior researchers, and treated them all with the same friendliness and respect. He willingly shared his immense knowledge and many benefited from his wise advice. He believed in fairness and was openly critical of discriminatory behaviour. He championed women researchers at a time when many of his colleagues largely overlooked them. His recognition of team members’ and collaborators’ contributions and his willingness to share credit may have meant that he missed out on individual honours. Notably, though, he was delighted to be awarded the American Diabetes Association’s Kelly West Award in 2001.

John retired in 2003, retaining a position as Emeritus Professor of Clinical Epidemiology at University College London. A good singer, he was a regular member of the St Barnabas Ealing Church choir, and attended many musical events there, arranged by fellow diabetologist and musician, Hugh Mather. Pre-deceased by his wife Marguerite, he moved to Cornwall in 2013 to be closer to his daughter, Frances, and her family. There he welcomed many visitors and continued his musical interests. He remained well until a stroke in late June and passed away on the 2nd of July.

He leaves a legacy of many friends and collaborators across the globe, researchers who owe their career success to him, and a positive impact on the health of people with diabetes. Our thoughts and best wishes are with his daughter Frances, son Nick and his three grandchildren. We miss you John.