Professor John Low Reid (1943-2026)

02 July 2026 (Last updated: 2 Jul 2026 23:34)

 

 

It is with great sadness that we inform you of the passing of Professor John Low Reid earlier this month. John was Head of the Department of Medicine and Therapeutics at the University of Glasgow, a Consultant Clinical Pharmacologist with a focus on hypertension and stroke, and served as Regius Professor of Medicine and Therapeutics.

John was a leading figure in hypertension research and contributed immensely to our understanding of the sympathetic nervous system, the renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system, the definition of diagnostic thresholds and therapeutic goals in hypertension, and the development of pharmacological therapies. He served as President of both the British Hypertension Society and the European Society of Hypertension, was Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Hypertension, and chaired one of the most successful and memorable joint ISH/ESH conferences in 1996. As a clinical pharmacologist, he led and contributed to landmark clinical trials, and as a stroke physician, he pioneered new therapies and established the stroke unit at the Western Infirmary. John was an inspirational leader who trained clinicians and basic scientists in Glasgow and across the world. Many leading colleagues in hypertension, cardiology, and related disciplines spent time in Glasgow and benefited enormously from John's support and mentorship.

John died of stroke on 7 June 2026, aged 82. His wife Randa passed away in 2014. He is survived by two children, six granddaughters, and two great-grandsons.

We extend our sincere condolences to John's family at this very sad time.

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