Professor Simon J Bowman BSc MBBS PhD FRCP

• FRCP, Royal College of Physicians UK, 2000
• CCST, JCHMT, 1997 
• PhD, University of London, 1995
• MRCP, Royal College of Physicians UK, 1989
• MB BS, University of London, 1986
• BSc (1st class Hons), University of London, 1983 

Professor Bowman qualified from University College London Hospitals in 1986 and achieved Membership of the Royal College of Physicians in 1989 and Fellowship in 2000. From 1991-1994 he was awarded a Medical Research Council PhD studentship at UMDS Guy’s Hospital studying the immunogenetic and T-cell receptor repertoire in patients with Felty’s syndrome and receiving his PhD in 1995.

He then did further clinical training at the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre in Oxford 1994-1996 and was subsequently awarded a postdoctoral MRC Clinician Scientist Fellowship. During this period he moved to take up a Senior Lectureship at the University of Birmingham and Honorary Consultant Post at Birmingham Heartlands Hospital and University Hospitals Birmingham developing his clinical and research interest in Sjogren’s Syndrome. From 2003-2017 he worked as an NHS Consultant based at University Hospitals Birmingham before taking up his current roles.

Professor Bowman has supervised a number of PhD studentships and has taught undergraduate and postgraduate medical students throughout his professional career.

Professor Bowman’s research has been focused on Sjogren’s Syndrome; specifically on developing clinical tools to support clinical trials in this condition for which there are currently no disease-modifying treatments.

He is currently leading workpackage 8 of the €15.4 million EU funded ‘New Clinical Endpoints in pSS: an interventional trial based on stratifying patients (NECESSITY). 2019-2025’ led by Professor Xavier Mariette (Paris, France).

Professor Bowman led the ARUK funded TRACTISS trial of Rituximab in primary Sjogren’s Syndrome along with Professor Paul Emery and Professor Costantino Pitzalis which was the first UK led trial of a biologic therapy in this condition (published 2017). He has provided advice on trial design to a number of major pharmaceutical companies investigating new therapies for use in Sjogren’s Syndrome for patient benefit. Samples and data from the TRACTISS Trial has continued to generate further research in collaboration with Professor Michele Bombardieri and colleagues at Queen Mary’s University of London and other collaborators internationally.

In collaboration with Professor Wan-Fai Ng of the University of Newcastle, UK, Professor Bowman was involved in the establishment of the MRC funded UK Primary Sjogren’s Syndrome Registry in 2010. and has also been a member of the FOREUM consortium on developing stratified medicine approaches to primary Sjogren’s Syndrome.

He was a leading contributor to the development of the 2016 American College of Rheumatology-European League against Rheumatism revised classification criteria for Sjogren’s Syndrome and to the development of the EULAR Sjogren’s Syndrome Disease Activity Index (ESSDAI) and Patient Reported Outcome (ESSPRI) measures that are in standard use today.

He also worked with Professor David Booth and many UK clinical colleagues prior to that in 2003-2004 to develop the Profile of Fatigue and Discomfort – Sicca Symptoms Inventory (PROFAD-SSI) that was the forerunner of the ESSPRI.

• Research and Development Lead at Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Trust.
• Deputy Treasurer of the Royal College of Physicians since 2016 and Harveian Librarian from 2016-2020.
• Elected President of the British Society for Rheumatology in 2014-2016 having previously been Chair of the Education and Training Committee from 2010-2013.
• From 2007-2013 Professor Bowman was Trustee and Medical President of the British Sjogren’s Syndrome Association (BSSA) which is the UK patient charity for Sjogren’s Syndrome.

Other activities have also included

• Chair of South Birmingham Research Ethics Committee 2009-2016.
• West Midlands Representative on the NHS England Clinical Reference Group for Specialised Rheumatology 2013-2016.
• Member: Scientific Strategy Committee ARUK (2014-2016); ARC Autoimmune Rheumatic Disease Subcommittee Clinical Trials Initiative (2007-2009) (also DMEC Vice-Chair).
• Sjögren’s Syndrome Foundation of America Medical Advisory Board (2005-2008).