Tributes have been paid to internationally renowned scientist Professor Keith Campbell, who has died at the age of 58.

Professor Campbell was instrumental in the creation of Dolly the Sheep, the first cloned mammal, which paved the way for the successful cloning of other species. He was a cell biologist/embryologist with a research career spanning more than 30 years, the majority of which was in the field of cell growth and differentiation. He joined the University in 1999 as Professor of Animal Development in the School of Biosciences.

Professor David Greenaway, Vice-Chancellor, said: “Keith was a brilliant scientist. His work was genuinely transformational and inspirational. His pioneering research was revolutionary. That, together with his passion for science, will ensure he is justifiably remembered for all he accomplished. Keith was also an outstanding colleague whose absence leaves a huge gap. He will be greatly missed. I offer my deepest respect and sympathy to his family.”

Prof Neil Crout, Head of the School of Biosciences, said: “Keith was a valued and respected colleague who will be sadly missed. His work and scientific achievements speak for themselves and his death is a great loss for developmental biology. Inevitably most people will remember him for Dolly the Sheep although his recent work was focused on fundamental and applied stem cell research as a tool for the study of human disease.”

Prof Jus St John, Director, Centre for Reproduction & Development at Monash University, Australia, said: “Keith was an outstanding and inventive scientist whose foresight and work led to major changes in how we now ask scientific questions and make significant advances.

“Very few scientists of Keith’s calibre exist and when they are successful, their impact is immense. The generation of Dolly, which he was the intellectual leader of, was an advance that triggered a revolution in scientific investigation. Without Keith’s input, the field of cellular reprogramming would not have made the significant advances that it has. I will sorely miss Keith as a great friend and collaborator.”

Prof Jose Cibelli, of Michigan State University, USA, said: “I knew Dr Campbell for almost two decades, first as a competitor, then as a colleague and then as a dear friend. While he is known worldwide by the public because of his role in the generation of Dolly the Sheep, his contributions to science are enormous and will be forever lasting. He developed new techniques to produce therapeutic proteins in domestic animals and was the first person to clone pigs, now being used for the generation of organs to potentially treat patients in need of organ transplantation.

“Thanks to his dedication and brilliant intellect the field of regenerative medicine is today closer to the clinics. We anticipate that within the next five years, patients suffering from degenerative diseases will be treated, if not cured, using technology introduced by Dr Campbell. All these scientific breakthroughs Prof Campbell gave us did not happen by chance; they are the product of years of study, hands-on experimentation and above all, a deep love for science.”

Prof Campbell is survived by his wife, Kathy Campbell and his daughters, Claire and Lauren Mills. An online book of condolence has been set up on the University website. An extended version of this article is available at: www.exchange.nottingham.ac.uk.