Professor John Hutchinson, FRS

Professor John Hutchinson, FRS, has navigated a diagnosis of epilepsy during his distinguished career in evolutionary biomechanics. To mark Disability Pride Month, we’re highlighting his experiences and celebrating his success. 

Building resilience from the beginning

Inspired by a love of the novel and movie “Jurassic Park”, John saw himself studying evolutionary biomechanics from the start of his career.

“I wanted to continue what I saw myself as being, which was a biologist who studied anything about life. It didn't matter if it was past or present life, it was just I wanted to know how organisms worked, but also how evolution changed organisms over time.” 

As well as courses in palaeontology and evolution, his career was significantly shaped by his study of how large animals move focusing on both elephants and Tyrannosaurus rex.

“I established myself a niche in this interdisciplinary field, drawing on biology, palaeontology, engineering, computer imaging and veterinary science.” 

His perseverance and work not only advanced our understanding of T. rex but also helped build a stronger, more general scientific theory about how giant land animals move and how these locomotion patterns evolved.  

A difficult diagnosis

In 2002 whilst working as a postdoctoral researcher at Berkeley, John had a stroke. 

“For the few weeks preceding this, I had been feeling increasingly unwell and suffering from a severe headache. On the day of the stroke, I was feeling so unwell I debated whether to rest at home or travel to Berkeley to analyse video data of elephant gait for a paper.”

Despite his deteriorating condition, John decided to travel to Berkeley and on arrival, he suffered a seizure and was fortunately noticed by passersby.

“In a funny kind of way, science saved my life – my decision to analyse the elephant data led to me being in a public place when the stroke occurred, rather than at home.”

After the stroke, John experienced concentration difficulties and periods of brain fog, but it wasn’t until 2014 that he unexpectedly developed epilepsy as a delayed consequence of the stroke.

“For a period of several years, I experienced severe and frequent seizures which caused debilitating mental and physical symptoms that impacted me, my family and my career.  I have now found a medication which has reduced the frequency of seizures without too many side effects… but I continue to experience exhaustion, brain fog, and drowsiness, which impact my ability to concentrate and function.”

Living with an invisible disability 

It was a powerful and emotional realisation for John when he acknowledged he was living with a disability. 

“I had not previously considered myself disabled, despite the challenges I was facing. This acknowledgement helped me to reach out for support and ask for accommodations. I have received a lot of support from my workplace, alongside family support which has been invaluable.” 

In the workplace, support from allies has been incredibly powerful and John is an advocate for flexible workplace adjustment policies which can be adapted to suit each individual’s needs. He is also passionate about increasing accessibility to academic conferences for academics with disabilities. 

Today, John continues to work in Evolutionary Biomechanics at the Royal Veterinary College, where he currently holds a professorship. His work has been featured in over 20 major TV documentaries, and he has been consulted in the making of numerous other documentaries. In 2023, John was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society in recognition of his outstanding contributions to science. 

“Progress in diversity and inclusion is frustratingly slow, but the upwards trajectory is promising. All kinds of diversity, including from disability, will make science better.”