Sir Edward Byrne (born 15 February 1952) is a neuroscientist who, as of September 2024, serves as the 4th President of King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), located in Thuwal, Saudi Arabia.

[2] Born 15 February 1952,[3] Byrne grew up in northeast England, the son of a general practitioner, and moved to Australia at the age of 15.

[8] Byrne first went to Monash University in 2003, when he was made Dean of its Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences,[9] a role he held until 2007.

He then returned to the UK, where he became Vice-Provost (Health) at University College London (initially serving as Dean of its Faculty of Biomedical Sciences and Head of its School of Medicine).

Immediately upon his appointment, Byrne undertook a restructuring of the university's management and administration, placing the ten faculties into four "clusters".

[citation needed] In 2014, Byrne was appointed a guest professor by Peking University Health Science Center (PUHSC).

In addition to his role in universities and medical research, Byrne has served on the boards of various commercial biomedical enterprises, including Cochlear and BUPA.

[16] On 26 January 2006, Byrne was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for service to neurology as a clinician and academic and to advances in medical research, particularly in the area of mitochondrial muscle disease.

On 26 January 2014, Byrne was appointed a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) for eminent service to tertiary education, particularly through leadership and governance roles with Monash University, to biomedical teaching and research, as a scientist and academic mentor, and as a contributor to improved global health.