A WORLD-RENOWNED scientist who grew up in the North-East has been honoured by one of the region’s universities.

Professor Sir Graham Teasdale, who was born in Spennymoor, County Durham, is the neurosurgeon, who invented the Glasgow Coma Scale which is used in hospitals worldwide to measure the progress of head injury victims.

He recently received his honorary doctorate of science from Sunderland University’s chancellor, Steve Cram, in recognition of his outstanding contribution in the field of neuroscience and neurosurgery.

Professor Teasdale was trained at Durham Medical School, and then the Institute of Neurological Sciences Glasgow.

He also established the risk of early complications, enabling guidelines that reduced mortality and disability; he helped establish the mechanisms that cause brain damage, and established for the first time how chronic conditions can stem from apparently mild injuries.

Prof Teasdale was made a knight bachelor in the 2006 new year honours list for services to neurosurgery and victims of head injuries.

He also founded the European Brain Injury Consortium and the International Neurotrauma Society and was President of the Society of British Neurological Surgeons.

Prof Teasdale said: “It’s a tremendous day for me and my family. It shows a complete circle for me as this where it all started and coming back here to receive this award is something special and a tremendous meaningful occasion.

“My whole attitude, beliefs and philosophy stems from my time growing up in the North -East and its society. This region is full of wonderful people, it is great to reconnect and I’m immensely proud.”

University vice-chancellor Professor Peter Fidler says: “Professor Sir Graham Teasdale has made highly significant contributions within the world of science and will inspire our graduates as they celebrate their academic success and embark on their careers. We are proud to pay tribute to him.”