Geoffrey Raisman dies: researcher whose work led to man walking again

Geoffrey Raisman died just a day after the Australian of the Year winner was heralded as being “central” to his work.

Professor Geoffrey Raisman, pictured in 2002, has died. Picture: Anthony Weate

The British neuroscientist credited with developing the groundbreaking research to enable paralysed Polish fireman Dariusz Fidyka to walk again has died just a day after Australian of the Year Alan Mackay-Sim was being heralded as being “central” to his work.

Professor Geoffrey Raisman led a British team from University College London that discovered that olfactory ensheathing cells can help guide the regeneration of nerve fibres.

It was his research, that was used by the Polish team led by associate professor Pawel Tabakow, that underpinned the successful brain and spinal surgeries on Mr Fidyka in 2012 that has enabled him to walk with assistance and ride a tricycle. An international row developed after the Polish-British team said Professor Mackay-Sim had no involvement in Mr Fidyka’s case and it was Professor Raisman’s research that was pertinent and relevant.

In an email to the team, Professor Mackay-Sim apologised to the Polish-British scientists for the widely circulated claims of the Australia Day Council that he was central to Mr Fidyka’s case and told them he would correct the error and promote their work during his public speeches in his role as Australian of the Year.

But it’s unclear if Professor Raisman was aware of what Professor Mackay-Sim was being credited for before his death on Friday, the day after Australia Day.

Professor Tabakow said his team was devastated by the news.

“My friend, Professor Geoff Raisman, the man who had the highest influence of my scientific and clinical work, passed away last Friday. My team is devastated by this news,” he said.

Professor Michael Hanna, director of the UCL Institute of Neurology, said “Geoffrey Raisman was a true pioneer of spinal cord injury science and a world leader in this area. He was deeply committed to translating his science to benefit patients. He leaves a lasting research legacy and a very active group continuing his work. We were all very proud to have him as a colleague at UCL and at the Institute of Neurology; he will be greatly missed.”