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Credit: University of Oxford, John Cairns
Seven researchers based at the University of Oxford have today been honoured as part of Her Majesty the Queen’s Birthday Honours List. The researchers have all played key roles in leading the University’s response to the Coronavirus pandemic, from the development of new vaccines to the discovery of new drug treatments, findings which have saved many lives.
The list of those today recognised is:
- Adrian Hill, Director of the Jenner Institute, Co-Director, Oxford Martin Programme on Vaccines, and Professor of Human Genetics, who becomes an honorary Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (KBE), for services to Science and Public Health.
- Sarah Gilbert, Professor of Vaccinology, who becomes a Dame Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (DBE), for services to Science and Public Health.
- Peter Horby, Director of the Pandemic Sciences Centre, and Professor of Emerging and Infectious Diseases and Global Health, who becomes a Knight Bachelor for services to Medical Research.
- Martin Landray, Deputy Director of the Big Data Institute, and Professor of Medicine and Epidemiology, who becomes a Knight Bachelor for services to Science and Public Health.
- Andrew Pollard, Director of the Oxford Vaccine Group, and Professor of Paediatric Infection and Immunity, who becomes a Knight Bachelor for services to Public Health, particularly during the COVID-19 Pandemic.
- Catherine Green, Associate Professor at the Welcome Centre for Human Genetics, who is appointed as an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE), for services to Science and Public Health.
- Teresa Lambe, Associate Professor at the Jenner Institute, who is appointed as an honorary Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE), for services to Science and Public Health.
Professor Louise Richardson, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford, said:
‘I am absolutely delighted by the recognition of our extraordinary colleagues who have worked so creatively and so tirelessly to develop a vaccine, and therapeutics, to protect us all from COVID-19. They and the teams that have supported them are saving lives around the world every day. We are all deeply proud of them.’
Andrew Pollard said:
‘I am absolutely delighted and uplifted to receive this honour, standing in awe of our amazing international team of talented vaccine researchers and filled with admiration for the dedicated trial volunteers. Together we have built a coronavirus vaccine for the world providing a protective shield fit for a band of knights.’
Professor Andrew Pollard, Director of the Oxford Vaccine Group, and Professor of Paediatric Infection and Immunity, Department of Paediatrics, and Honorary Consultant Paediatrician at Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Andrew Pollard has been Director of the Oxford Vaccine Group in the Department of Paediatrics at the University of Oxford since 2001 and is a Fellow of St Cross College and recent Vice Master of the College. He is also Honorary Consultant Paediatrician at Oxford University Hospitals Trust and has led the paediatric infectious disease clinical team at Oxford Children’s Hospital since 2001. His research involves the design, development, clinical testing and laboratory evaluation of vaccines, with the aim of preventing serious infectious disease and improving child health. He trained in medicine and paediatric infectious diseases in the UK and Canada and his research has supported global policy on typhoid, pneumonia, meningitis, Ebola and pandemic influenza as well as the use of many vaccines in the NHS.
He has led the global clinical trials of the Oxford coronavirus vaccine, with the first doses given on 23 April 2020. He coordinated trial sites across the UK, Brazil and South Africa providing the key data on the vaccine’s safety and efficacy that led to authorisation around the world from the end of December 2020 and distribution of over 500M doses by the end of May 2021. He also worked on site at the Kassam Stadium in Oxford as a volunteer vaccinator.
He chairs the UK Department of Health and Social Care’s Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, is a member of WHO’s SAGE and chaired the European Medicines Agency scientific advisory group on vaccines for 8 years until 2020.
He received the Bill Marshall award of the European Society for Paediatric Infectious Disease in 2013, was elected to the Academy of Medical Sciences in 2016, received the Rosen von Rosenstein award in 2019 and is a National Institute for Health Research Senior Investigator.