Heartfelt tributes have been paid to a "terrific and inspiring" professor after he tragically passed away.
Edinburgh University announced that they had lost one of their esteemed colleagues, Dr Andrew Sims, to melanoma.
A investigator for the school, Andrew, or Andy as he was known, had worked at the institute of genetics and cancer, with the hope of "improving or understanding" of the disease.
An Edinburgh University graduate, Andy had studied Biological Sciences, before going on to work in a series of laboratories at esteemed institutions in Cambridge, Manchester and even California.
After success in a number of roles, he returned to the capital in 2008 where he continued his work into researching breast cancer, and "changed how cancer research was done in Edinburgh."
In a tribute to Andy today, the University described him as a true "gentleman", writing:
"Dr Andrew ‘Andy’ Sims, valued colleague and respected cancer scientist, mentor and teacher, died on Friday May 14 th as a result of melanoma.
"Andy was a terrific teacher, he mentored many postdoctoral researchers and graduate students throughout his career.
"He also educated and inspired many future scientists through his public engagement work, in particular highlighting career paths in bioinformatics to high school students.
"Following his melanoma diagnosis, as well as continuing his own research, Andy devoted time to educate others and raise awareness of cancer, including an event for University staff and students, ‘Shining a Light on Cancer – Living with Melanoma’ on World Cancer Day 2021.
"Andy Sims was a gentleman, a scientist, a mentor and a teacher who had huge influence on staff and students in our Institute and beyond. Andy was a family man, and he will be sorely missed by all his family and friends, University colleagues and the wider UK and international cancer research communities."
After learning of the tragic news, many staff and students took to an online condolence forum to share their memories of the scientist.
One colleague wrote: "Andy was a lovely guy, great scientist and a really fantastic collaborator - he had a wonderful 'can do' attitude. He made a huge contribution to so many studies and his death is a great loss to the cancer research community."
Other tributes described him as a "great collaborator", who was always "full of enthusiasm" and "did everything with a smile".
Another said: "Andy was a very special colleague and friend, a wonderful collaborator and scientist. Scientifically, Andy was generous with his time, and helped us achieve things that we could never have done without him. Personally, Andy brought warmth and lightness with him to every occasion. It was a joy to work with him, and I am forever grateful to have known him."
