The vice-chancellor of Queen's University Belfast, Professor Patrick Johnston, has died.

Professor Johnston came from Derry and was educated at St Columb's College.

Staff at QUB were told of his death in an email from Queen's university's registrar, James O'Kane on Sunday.

"It is with a deep sense of shock and loss, we announce the untimely and sudden death of our Vice-Chancellor, Professor Patrick Johnston," said Mr O'Kane, speaking via Twitter.

The cause of Professor Johnston's death has not yet been revealed.

Professor Johnston first attended University College, Dublin, where he obtained a MB BCh with distinction.

He later obtained a Fellowship at the National Cancer Institute at Bethesda, Maryland. This was where he began further clinical training in oncology.

In 1996, he was appointed Professor of Oncology in Queen's University. He went on to set up the Centre for Cancer Research and Cell Biology.

He was Dean of the School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences prior to being appointed vice-chancellor.

Professor Johnston is survived by a wife and four sons.

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