We are deeply saddened by the loss of our most valuable colleague, Fiona McGuigan, who passed away in early December. She will be profoundly missed by all researchers, colleagues and friends who had the fortune to work or collaborate with her. Fiona was committed to musculoskeletal research of the highest quality throughout her academic career. She was a long-standing member of ECTS and a regular participant in the annual meetings.
Fiona graduated from the University of Aberdeen in 1991 and went on to gain a PhD in Genetics of Osteoporosis in 2001. Her studies were among the early and pioneering studies of bone genetics from the laboratory of Stuart Ralston, where she also continued after her thesis. Importantly, she became engaged in the in the GEFOS and later in the GENOMOS consortia after a research period at the Erasmus University Rotterdam and she remained a member throughout, collaborations she much valued alongside personal friendships. During this period, she was also a visiting scholar at the University of Arkansas.
In 2006, Fiona was recruited by Kristina Akesson to a post-doc position at the Clinical and Molecular Osteoporosis unit, Lund University in Sweden. In her role, being the translational scientist in the group, she soon became the cornerstone in developing new research directions. Her knowledge and sharp mind were fundamental for the successful broadening of our research into new areas of investigations such as epigenetics and proteomics.
In 2012, her career had progressed, and she was appointed associate professor in experimental orthopedics at Lund university, whereafter she was much sought after for examination committees and review assignments.
Fiona was a most appreciated and excellent mentor to numerous PhD students, post-docs and medical students, with positiveness and kindness coupled with scientific caliber.
For all who worked with her, Fiona was at heart, a scientist with integrity and high scientific standards, an enormously patient mentor and truly incredible person, low key and yet with sparking colors – one of the genuinely good persons in this world.