Prof Robert (Bob) Millar, Director of the Mammal Research Institute and the Medical Research Council (MRC) Receptor Biology Unit was recently elected as President of the International Neuroendocrinology Federation (INF). This prestigious appointment increases the visibility and profile of the University of Pretoria (UP).

He was the recipient of a National Science and Technology Forum (NSTF) Lifetime Achiever Award during 2013 to an individual for his outstanding contribution to Science, Engineering, Technology and Innovation (SETI) during his lifetime. Prof Millar is a Fellow of the Royal Society (Edinburgh), a Fellow of the Royal Society of South Africa and a Fellow of the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf). He has published more than 400 articles in internationally peer-reviewed journals (cited over 15 000 times) and has an H-index of over 60. Prof Millar is also an NRF A-rated scientist.

The INF was established to promote the development of research and education in basic and clinical neuroendocrinology, to disseminate scientific information in this and related fields, to arrange for publication of information aimed at the advance of the field, to facilitate the exchange of ideas among scientists of all nations and to attract young investigators to the field.

The Federation organises an International Congress of Neuroendocrinology every four years and Prof Millar will preside over the next international meeting in 2018 in Toronto. The Congress provides a forum for the presentation and discussion of recent neuroendocrinology research among scientists from all countries.

The INF facilitates the exchange of scientific information between scientists by sponsoring meetings, workshops, teaching courses, new neurosciences technologies and discussions in coordination with national neuroendocrine groups and societies. To support its abovementioned activities the INF provides travel grants to scientists and students to encourage participation at meetings.

The official journal of the INF is Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology which has an Impact Factor of 7.58 (10.6 for five years).