Sir Robert Brian HeapCBEFRS (born 27 February 1935) is a British biological scientist.
He was educated at New Mills Grammar School in the Peak District, Derbyshire, and the University of Nottingham (where he earned his BSc and PhD). He has an MA and a ScD from the University of Cambridge and Honorary DScs from Nottingham (1994), York (2001) and St Andrews (2007).[1]
1963: Lalor Research Fellow, ARC Institute of Physiology, Babraham Institute, Cambridge
1964-95: Staff Member, AFRC Institute of Physiology, Babraham, serving as Head, Dept of Physiology, 1976; Head of Cambridge Research Station, 1986; Director Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics Research, Cambridge and Edinburgh, 1989–93; Director of Science, BBSRC, Swindon 1991–94 and Director BBSRC Babraham Institute, 1993–94.
1994-2001: visiting senior fellow, School of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge.[1]
Heap's primary research interest was in reproductive biology and the function of hormones in reproduction. His research into the control of pregnancy, birth and lactation led to important contributions in endocrine physiology and farm animal breeding.[2] He has published on endocrine physiology, biotechnology, sustainable consumption and production, and science advice for policy makers.
Brian Heap was President of the Institute of Biology (now Royal Society of Biology) 1996-1998, UK Representative on the European Science Foundation Strasbourg, 1994–97, a member of the Nuffield Council on Bioethics 1996-2001, UK Representative on the NATO Science Committee 1998-2005, member of the Scientific Advisory Panel for Emergency Responses (SAPER) at the Cabinet Office, Chairman of the Cambridge Genetics Knowledge Park and Public Health Genetics, 2002-2010, and President of the European Academies Science Advisory Council [de], 2010-2014. He was co-Project Leader of Biosciences for Farming in Africa, 2014–17, and senior adviser of Smart Villages from 2017.
In 1994, he was awarded CBE, and, in 2001, knighted for services to international science.
On 8 October 2007, the Duke of Edinburgh opened three new buildings at St Edmund's College, Cambridge, one of which was named the "Brian Heap Building".[5]