Profondément émus par la disparition de notre amie Jo Jo était non seulement une grande scientifique endocrinologue spécialiste de chronobiologie qui rayonnait mondialement et avec laquelle j’avais plaisir à échanger sur notre quotidien scientifique bien que nos domaines ne se chevauchaient pas vraiment (écotox en ce qui me concerne),  mais c’était surtout une grande amie chaleureuse, joyeuse et malicieuse, pilier solide sur lequel on pouvait s’appuyer, répondant toujours avec bienveillance quand on la sollicitait. Elle cultivait les codes des deux cultures, la britannique naturellement mais aussi la française qu’elle affectionnait. J’admirais sa parfaite maîtrise du français ! Elle aimait favoriser les échanges culturels franco-britanniques ! RIP Jo. Tu nous manques déjà !  Et nos très sincères condoléances à John, Rachel et Paul dont nous partageons le chagrin. Catherine Regnault-Roger & famille  Henri, Julien, Elise, Benjamin…

Dear Jo, with great sadness I heard about your sudden and unexpected passing away. The first time we met came to my mind – it was at a conference, I was a young PhD student and giving my first talk. You were sitting in the middle of the front row in the audience, it felt like you were watching me intently and I got pretty terrified. After this, however, I had the chance to talk to you on several occasions (mostly during my time in Surrey in Debra’s group), and I realised that you are not only a brilliant researcher but also a warm-hearted person with a great sense of humour, and a truly inspiring character. It was an honour to have met you….

Very saddened to hear of Jo’s passing.  I was so grateful to have had the opportunity to spend time with Jo, and be absolutely inspired by her.  Loved talking with (and listening to) Jo, writing with her and learning from her. And admiring the genuinely caring and supportive person she was. The chatter and laughter from that corner office in Surrey always made me smile.    Thank you Jo for all that you’ve given to our field – the scientific knowledge, core methodologies and the development of generations of great scientists behind you.  I’ll certainly do my part to ensure the younger sleep and circadian scientists and clinicians to come will appreciate your pioneering contributions to the work we love.    Tracey Sletten…

Jo initiated many in the field of chronobiology and was a true source of inspiration and wisdom in science and beyond. It is a priviledge to stand on her shoulders. My deepest sympathy to her close co-workers, friends and family. With grief and gratitude, Luc….

I first met Jo in a pub opposite St Mary’s Hospital over a pint after a lunch time talk.  I had joined the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) and there was an idea to study melatonin secretion during the Antarctic year.  As a young medic I had the opportunity to do some research and Jo was very enthusiastic and supportive of this – and of me!  We designed a study to measure the secretion in spring, summer (sun did not set), autumn and winter (continuous darkness) and to expose half the subjects to sunlight simulating light after the winter sampling.  It was an ambitious project and I returned to Surrey with 1500 samples.  Jo and her team taught me – having never really worked in a lab and certainly never having undertaken, the radio immuno assay technique – what confidence she must have had in me.  We showed that we could shift the secretion pattern from winter to summer by light exposure.  This was the start of a long collaboration with the BAS culminating in her being able to visit the base to see where her studies had taken place. Jo was such a lovely person, hugely knowlegable about so…

Jo was a leader and inspiration in the field of melatonin and chronobiology. Her group developed a melatonin radioimmunoassay that opened the door to investigating this hormone’s functions, so as a young PhD student in Gerald Lincoln’s laboratory her work was the absolute gold standard. Jo was my external PhD examiner, her intellectual rigour, enthusiasm, and critical insight were outstanding. It was a pleasure to keep in regular contact throughout my career, usually at neuroendocrine or chronobiology meetings.  Her sharp thinking, support, and sense of humour were memorable. Jo leaves a great legacy in biomedical science, rest in peace….

Jo was a melatonin chronobiology pioneer and giant. She recognised the power of melatonin, measured it, applied it to problems such as jet lag and delayed sleep-wake phase disorder, its potential in restoring entrainment of blind people to the 24 hour day as well as the relevance of circadian rhythms to metabolism. Pioneering science.  She founded a successful company before spin-off was a word and established Surrey as a centre for chronobiology. She recognised the importance of critical mass and recruited a next generation of chronobiologist, including me, to Surrey, and I have never regretted it. Jo retired, I think in part because she wanted to give this next generation a chance to grow and be independent. After her retirement, she continued to carefully follow the melatonin and circadian literature and enjoyed commenting on popular papers the conclusions of which she agreed or disagreed with. She also had a sense of humour that was born out of her sharp and critical intellect. Jo is a role model indeed.  Derk-Jan     …

I am sorry to hear that Jo is no longer here. She was an icon in research into melatonin, the pineal gland, sleep and chronobiology. She also had superior human qualities, which made her suitable as a leader of scientific societies and assessment committees. I remember her as chairperson of the “European pineal Study Group/Society”, where she always had well-argued views, without putting herself and her own interests at the center. In addition, she also possessed great knowledge of the world’s diverse cultures and deep respect for the diversity of people. She was a loner who will be missed. Dear Jo, we wish you all the best on your final journey. Morten      …

Dear Jo where do I start to thank you for the over 30 years of scientific collaboration, support, mentorship but above all friendship. From offering me a job when told I had been fired – accompanied by the phrase “but you’ll have to do a PhD” to sharing an office with many a sigh on her part when in need of a cigarette! She was a constant support and had such an eye for significance when looking at raw data. She had great enthusiam for the field of melatonin and circadian/diurnal rhythm research which she passed on to all who studied with her or heard her speak. She was always interested in everything around her and was great company socially. I will miss you, sleep well Benita….

For a young PhD student, Jo was a truly inspiring and at times terrifying presence. But when she looked at your data she became a playful companion, and had an unparalleled ability to identify at first sight whatever your graphs were trying to hide. I am happy to have met her. Ciao Jo, travel safe…

I was sad to hear the news of Jo’s passing.  I didnt know her personally, but she was a hugely influential figure in the field, mentored many greats, established Surrey as a world-leading human sleep centre, and gave very nice talks!  We give thanks for her life….

I grew up as a scientist reading Jo’s papers and in the audience of her always informative and always entertaining presentations. She was external examiner for my PhD. Jo was a big personality, a chronobiology grandee who was not afraid to take on the responsibility of keeping our field on the straight and narrow in terms of scientific rigour and human decency. Her scientific legacy is enviable. Her work on melatonin established foundational concepts and she set the foundations of the impressive chronobiology group at the University of Surrey. As I think of her now I hear her deep, warm laugh. A great loss. …

Jo was a great scientist and and a true pioneer in her field. But for me, she was simply a lovely person and a real joy to collaborate with; we had great fun! May she rest in peace. Simon…

So sad to hear the news of the passing of Jo. I have benefited so much from her mentoring, and will always appreciate her visionary thinking, curiosity, wisdom, wit and passion for the science of human chronobiology,  Her impact on the field has been profound and transformational. Just as examples, melatonin remains the gold standard marker for measuring the human circadian clock, and melatonin (and its agonists) are widely used to treat circadian rhythm sleep-wake disorders.    Many of us who trained with Jo recognise that we continue to “stand on the shoulder of a giant” in field. Thank you, Jo….

Chronobiology has lost a treasure in Jo. She was a scholar who was passionate about her work, and rightly so. She was pioneering for our field and for women in our field. I still tell Jo stories to my students – about her field work, for instance, comparing the Royal Navy and Greenpeace bases in the Antarctic. I loved the way she debunked the idea that melatonin might be anti-aging by showing her passport picture when she started taking melatonin daily compared to what was then ‘the present’. She attended meetings until relatively recently even though it was quite difficult for her to get around at our complicated EBRS locations. Please do try to keep her memory alive and make sure that the younger generation knows all of her work. Cite heavily! My deepest sympathy to her Surrey colleagues and her family at this time. It is a huge loss. In sorrow, Martha…