Professor Patrick Johnston, the vice-chancellor of Queen's University in Belfast, was a hugely respected figure, and his death at the age of 58 has caused enormous shock and sorrow.
The Derry-born professor, who was appointed to his senior academic role in 2014, had an international reputation in the medical sector and was regarded as one of the world's leading cancer specialists.
He played a central role in the establishment of the Centre for Cancer Research at Queen's, where his work was described as `visionary'.
Many moving tributes have been paid to Professor Johnston's contribution across a range of fields, and his passing will be widely regretted.
