{{Short description|Chief Science Advisor to Ministry of Health, NZ}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2021}} {{Use New Zealand English|date=October 2021}} {{Infobox person | name = Ian Town | honorific_suffix = FRACP | image = Ian Town November 2020.jpg | caption = Town in November 2020 | birth_name = George Ian Town | education = [[University of Otago]]<br>[[University of Southampton]] | employer = Ministry of Health }}
'''George Ian Town''' is a New Zealand respiratory scientist and health official. He was appointed the Chief Science Advisor to the New Zealand Ministry of Health in 2019.
== Education and research == After graduating MB ChB at the [[University of Otago]], Town completed a [[Doctor of Medicine]] higher degree at the [[University of Southampton]] in 1991, with a thesis entitled ''The role of inflammation in oxygen-induced lung injury in the preterm guinea pig''.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Town|first=George Ian|date=1991|title=The role of inflammation in oxygen-induced lung injury in the preterm guinea pig (Thesis (D.M.) - University of Southampton, Dept. of Medicine I|url=https://www-lib.soton.ac.uk/uhtbin/cgisirsi/?ps=cYLcKavqiM/HARTLEY/X/9|url-status=live|access-date=2021-10-30|website=www-lib.soton.ac.uk|archive-date=30 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211030045440/https://www-lib.soton.ac.uk/uhtbin/cgisirsi/?ps=cYLcKavqiM%2FHARTLEY%2FX%2F9}}</ref>
Town is a physician and has published on evidence-based guidelines for respiratory medicine, particularly asthma, COPD and pneumonia. He is a Fellow of the [[Royal Australasian College of Physicians]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Our Chief Science Advisor Forum|url=https://www.pmcsa.ac.nz/who-we-are/chief-science-advisor-forum/|access-date=2021-10-30|website=Prime Minister's Chief Science Advisor|language=en-NZ|archive-date=29 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211029031316/https://www.pmcsa.ac.nz/who-we-are/chief-science-advisor-forum/|url-status=live}}</ref>
Town has publicly stated that the research on the drug [[Ivermectin]] doesn't show that the drug is effective at treating [[COVID-19]] and claimed that it has dangerous side effects. Though he has voiced support for other [[protease]] inhibiting drugs.<ref>{{Citation|title=COVID-19 (novel coronavirus) update – 10 December, 2021 12:30pm {{!}} Ministry of Health NZ|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiBa6v_VLI4|language=en|access-date=2021-12-13}}</ref>
== Employment == Town was the Dean of the University of Otago in Christchurch from 2002 to 2005.<ref>{{Cite web|last=University of Otago|first=Christchurch|title=History of the University of Otago, Christchurch|url=https://www.otago.ac.nz/christchurch/about/history/|access-date=2021-10-30|website=www.otago.ac.nz|language=en-nz|archive-date=9 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210609183024/https://www.otago.ac.nz/christchurch/about/history/|url-status=live}}</ref> He was the Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the [[University of Canterbury]] from 2005 to 2013.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Chief Science Advisor|url=https://www.health.govt.nz/about-ministry/leadership-ministry/chief-science-advisor|access-date=2021-10-30|website=Ministry of Health NZ|language=en|archive-date=22 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211022114114/https://www.health.govt.nz/about-ministry/leadership-ministry/chief-science-advisor|url-status=live}}</ref> He has been Chair of the Performance Based Research Fund Sector Reference Group and Chair of the Tertiary Education Commission PBRF Governance Group.<ref name=":0" /> He was the Chair of Te Papa Hauora/Christchurch Health Precinct Advisory Council, advising on the post-earthquake rebuild, for five years.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web|date=2018-10-03|title=New approach brings different health professions together to learn|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/opinion/107577517/new-approach-brings-different-health-professions-together-to-learn|access-date=2021-10-30|website=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |language=en|archive-date=8 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181208101204/https://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/opinion/107577517/new-approach-brings-different-health-professions-together-to-learn|url-status=live}}</ref>
Town was appointed as Chief Science Advisor to the [[Ministry of Health (New Zealand)|Ministry of Health]] in July 2019.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|date=20 May 2020|title=Christ's College: Health Matters|url=https://christscollege.com/college-life/archived-news/health-matters|url-status=live|access-date=2021-10-30|website=Christ's College|language=en|archive-date=30 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211030045437/https://christscollege.com/college-life/archived-news/health-matters}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> His role at the Ministry was originally part-time, and involved working with [[Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment|MBIE]] and the [[Health Research Council of New Zealand|Health Research Council]] to implement the New Zealand Health Research Strategy 2017–2027.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> When COVID-19 arrived in New Zealand his background in respiratory medicine led to his advising full-time on the New Zealand response to COVID-19.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web|title=Independent experts to advise Government on post-vaccination future|url=http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/independent-experts-advise-government-post-vaccination-future|access-date=2021-10-30|website=The Beehive|language=en|archive-date=12 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211012070925/https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/independent-experts-advise-government-post-vaccination-future|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-12-26|title=Ire over anti-lockdown letter|url=https://www.odt.co.nz/star-news/star-national/ire-over-anti-lockdown-letter|access-date=2021-10-30|website=[[Otago Daily Times]] |language=en|archive-date=30 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211030045438/https://www.odt.co.nz/star-news/star-national/ire-over-anti-lockdown-letter|url-status=live}}</ref>
== Selected publications == {{Scholia}} * {{Cite Q|Q24678793}} * {{Cite Q|Q83039767}} * {{Cite Q|Q35534065}} * {{Cite Q|Q36501395}} * {{Cite Q|Q33973580}} * {{Cite Q|Q109329560}} * {{Cite Q|Q109329561}}
== References == {{Reflist}}{{COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand}}{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Town, Ian}} [[Category:University of Otago alumni]] [[Category:Alumni of the University of Southampton]] [[Category:Academic staff of the University of Otago]] [[Category:Academic staff of the University of Canterbury]] [[Category:Fellows of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians]] [[Category:New Zealand scientists]] [[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]] [[Category:Living people]]