Published: 12 July 2024
Leading scientists at NIHR have been recognised in the King’s Birthday Honours List for outstanding contributions to health and social care.
We at NIHR offer our warmest congratulations to them all, and thank them for the significant contributions they have made to health and care research.
Professor Anthony Gordon: MBE
Professor Gordon, is Director of the National Research Collaboration Programme (NRCP), jointly funded by NHS England and NIHR. He is awarded for his services to critical care medicine.
The NIHR Senior Investigator is Chair in Anaesthesia and Critical Care at Imperial College London. He also works as an Intensive Care consultant in St Mary’s Hospital.
His research interests focus on precision medicine in sepsis. He has led many clinical trials which have shaped international sepsis guidelines.
He is the UK chief investigator for the international REMAP-CAP platform trial for COVID-19 and influenza. The trial has generated evidence to improve treatments for, and saved hundreds of thousands of lives from severe COVID-19. The study team is continuing using pandemic lessons to evaluate treatments for people hospitalised with severe flu.
Professor Gordon, who has previously held NIHR Clinician Scientist and NIHR Research Professor fellowships, said: “Working in critical care for the last 30 years, looking after and developing better treatments for the sickest patients in hospital has been a privilege. It is wonderful now to be recognised with this award.
“I am very grateful to NIHR for supporting my research over the years and also allowing me to build a fantastic research team who have developed treatments that have saved so many lives amongst critically ill patients. I look forward to continuing to find new ways to ensure more patients receive the best treatments possible.”
Professor Rachel Upthegrove: MBE
Professor Upthegrove is honoured for services to mental health and life sciences research.
She is Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Birmingham and a Consultant Psychiatrist in the Birmingham Early Intervention Services.
She leads the NIHR Mental Health Translational Research Collaboration, which connects experts and centres across the UK to accelerate discoveries in the field into clinical practice. The NIHR Mental Health TRC is delivering the Government’s Mental Health Mission, a £42m programme designed to increase capacity in mental health research and address areas of unmet need and high burden of mental illness.
She will become a Senior Clinical Researcher and Director-Designate of NIHR Oxford Health Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) in August.
Professor Upthegrove said: "I am thrilled to have been honoured with an MBE for services to mental health research. Improving our understanding of mental illness and creating new and effective interventions and therapies is vitally important, especially for those experiencing mental ill health and their families. I am proud this work has been recognised.
"This is a testament to the many collaborators, colleagues, patients, researchers who I have worked with nationally and internationally and specifically at the University of Birmingham and University of Oxford over recent years who have been absolutely critical to making progress in this field and improving the lives of patients.”
Professor Melita Gordon: Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George
Professor Gordon is based at the University of Liverpool and specialises in Gastroenterology and General Medicine. She is recognised for services to Global Health.
Her career spans over 25 years. She has made ground-breaking advancements with a profound impact, particularly in Africa.
Her NIHR Global Research Professorship is on Preventing Invasive Salmonella Disease in Africa. Her research has accelerated the development and deployment of Salmonella vaccines in Africa. This has protected millions of vulnerable children.
She said: “I am both humbled and delighted to learn of this honour. The theme of companionship feels very fitting - I am grateful for the many students, colleagues, and team-members, and for my family, who have been alongside as my companions in this work.”
Professor Adam Gordon: MBE
Professor Gordon is awarded for outstanding services to older people’s healthcare. He is the NIHR Applied Research Collaboration (ARC) East Midlands Theme Lead for the Building Community Resilience and Enabling Independence. His work includes research to support independent living and improved care for stroke survivors.
He said: “We need to better understand the needs of older people living with frailty within the health and social care system. I feel privileged that my work helps shine a light on how we improve care for this group at a local, regional and national level. Hopefully, we have improved the situation somewhat, but obviously, there is so much work that still needs to be done.
“As a geriatrician, I see in my clinical work the positive effects that evidence-based approaches to care for older people can make. I’ve sought through my research work to understand how we can deliver the best care as consistently as possible. A particular focus is the care home sector, where care home staff have expertise in the care needs of their residents and yet can face difficulties in how they interact with healthcare professionals from the NHS to deliver joined-up care. We’ve sought, through our research, to give both care home staff and the NHS staff that interact with them the tools and processes to work in a collaborative, shared way to make the best of their shared expertise.
“I have collaborated with so many hugely inspirational colleagues working in care homes, community and primary care and hospitals. They all work incredibly hard in roles which are often perceived as unglamorous to ensure that older people receive the quality care they both need and deserve.
“I accept this honour on behalf of my colleagues in the care of older people, and their many older patients, across the country.”
Senior investigators awarded
Professor David Menon, an emeritus NIHR Senior Investigator, is awarded a CBE for services to neurocritical care. He founded the Neurosciences Critical Care Unit (NCCU) at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge. He is recognised for his national and global clinical and research leadership in traumatic brain injury.
NIHR Senior Investigator Professor Jane Davies receives an OBE for services to people with cystic fibrosis. She is Professor in Paediatric Respirology and Experimental Medicine at Imperial College London.
Professor Lucy Chappell, NIHR CEO, said: “Congratulations to all the scientists and researchers who have received King’s Birthday Honours for their outstanding contributions to health and social care research, both in the UK and abroad.
"Their pioneering and dedicated efforts across many disciplines showcase the very best of the country’s life science and technical advantage. These awards recognise the continued commitment and difference that our researcher teams make to the lives and healthcare outcomes of people around the world.”