Mary J. Morrell

Mary Morrell is a British medical scientist who is a professor of Sleep and Respiratory Physiology at Imperial College London, and head of the Pears Cumbria School of Medicine. Her research considers sleep apnoea and sleep disordered breathing. She was awarded the 2023 Imperial College Medal.

Early life and education Morrell trained and practised as a nurse at St Mary's Hospital, London. She was a doctoral researcher at Charing Cross Hospital, where she became interested in sleep and controlling breathing. She studied patients with lateral medullary syndrome, who suffered from brain stem lesions. During her PhD, she became interested in the hypocapnic apnoeic threshold. She was awarded a Ph.D. in physiology from the University of London.

At Imperial College London, Morrell led a review of the medical curriculum, strengthening students' clinical skills and increasing their engagement with technology. She led a programme in Cardiovascular and Respiratory Healthcare. She was awarded the President’s Medal for Excellence in Teaching in 2014. Morrell was made the President of the British Sleep Society in 2016. In 2024, she was made head of the Pears Cumbria School of Medicine, which teaches a four year graduate programme for health and biosciences graduates.

In 2023, Morrell was awarded the Imperial College Medal.

Selected publications