Leading academics receive birthday honours

Knighthoods and OBEs for Imperial researchers <em> - News Release </em>

By Laura Gallagher
Thursday 19 June 2008

Key figures from the Faculties of Medicine and Natural Sciences were recognised this week in the 2008 Queen’s Birthday Honours list.

Lung disease expert Professor Anthony Newman Taylor, Head of the National Heart and Lung Institute at Imperial College, and Professor Christopher Edwards, a former Principal of the Imperial College School of Medicine, were awarded knighthoods. Also recognised was the late Emeritus Professor Dennis Anderson, founder of the Centre for Environmental Policy and Technology at Imperial, who received a posthumous OBE.

In addition, Professor Paul Matthews, Chair in Clinical Neuroscience, was awarded an 'honorary' OBE, an honour which is granted to people from other countries who have made a significant contribution to relations between the United Kingdom and their own country.

As Professor of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Sir Anthony Newman Taylor's research investigates the occupational and environmental causes of lung disease, particularly asthma, but also emphysema and fibrosing lung disease.

Professor Sir Anthony Newman Taylor

Sir Anthony, who was knighted for public service, has been Head of the National Heart and Lung Institute at the College since April 2006. In addition, he is chairman of the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council, an expert advisory group for the UK Department for Work and Pensions.

After starting his career as consultant physician at the Royal Brompton Hospital in 1973, Sir Anthony built the largest clinical and research department in Europe. He has previously held the roles of Medical Director, Director of Research and Deputy Chief Executive at the Royal Brompton and Harefield NHS Trust.

He has also worked as an advisor to many organisations including government bodies in Greece, Spain and India. Sir Anthony was commissioned to carry out a report into a major disaster in Bhopal in 1984, when the release of the deadly gas methyl isocyanate killed thousands of people.

Professor Sir Christopher Edwards

Professor Christopher Edwards was knighted in recognition of his services to higher education, medical science, and regeneration in the North East of England.

Sir Christopher was the first Head of Imperial College School of Medicine, a position he held from 1995 to 2001. He was responsible for successfully merging the medical schools of St Mary's, Charing Cross and Westminster, Hammersmith and the Royal Brompton Hospitals, to form Imperial's School of Medicine in 1997.

Made a Fellow of Imperial College in 2003, Sir Christopher is also affiliated to Imperial as a Senior Research Investigator in the Division of Medicine.

Sir Christopher is currently the Chairman of Chelsea and Westminster NHS Foundation Trust, one of Imperial's partner NHS Trusts.

Prior to joining Chelsea and Westminster in 2007, Professor Edwards was Vice-Chancellor of the University of Newcastle upon Tyne. He has also held numerous senior positions including President of the Association of Physicians of Great Britain and Ireland and Chairman of the Council of Heads of Medical Schools.

Sir Christopher said: "I was obviously thrilled and delighted by this award. However, if I have achieved anything it has been for two reasons. First, I have been fortunate to work with some wonderfully talented and committed people. Second, I have had the unfailing support of my wife Sally."

Professor Paul Matthews OBE

Professor Paul Matthews is an expert in using magnetic resonance imaging to understand the way the brain functions. He is Head of the GlaxoSmithKline Clinical Imaging Centre, a unique venture undertaken by GSK, Imperial College London and the Medical Research Council, based on Imperial's Hammersmith campus.

The Centre is the largest new imaging centre in Europe dedicated to development and application of imaging techniques for clinical research. It aims to use imaging research to help develop of new medicines across a broad range of diseases including cancer, cardiovascular disease, and psychiatric and neurological disorders.

Prior to joining the Centre, Professor Matthews was the first head of the Centre for functional magnetic resonance in imaging of the brain at the University of Oxford, a post that he occupied for over a decade.

Professor Matthews said: "I was surprised and delighted to receive this honour. As an American, I was particularly moved to receive this from my adopted country. I know that many others also deserve such recognition and feel very fortunate to have been singled out. What I hope was responsible is my commitment to driving the science of brain imaging relentlessly in ways that will bring better treatments to patients, faster and more affordably."

Professor Stephen Smith, Principal of the Faculty of Medicine, said: "Anthony, Chris and Paul are very influential figures in Imperial and their honours also reflect the wider impact of their many achievements. We offer our warmest congratulations to them all on this well deserved recognition."

The late Professor Dennis Anderson OBE

The late Dennis Anderson, Emeritus Professor of Energy and Environmental Studies in the Centre for Environmental Policy (CEP), was honoured with an OBE following his death in April this year. In his distinguished career he worked to identify and address the challenges of energy, environment and human development.

Following roles in the Ministry of Technology, Royal Dutch Shell and the World Bank, he became Professor of Energy and Environmental Studies at Imperial in 1996. He established the Centre for Energy Policy and Technology in 1998.

In his last decade, Professor Anderson made key policy contributions, advising government on energy reviews and white papers, developing technological options for G8 climate change talks for the Prime Minister's office and acting as executive advisor to the Stern Review of the Economics of Climate Change.

Professor Sir Peter Knight, Principal of the Faculty of Natural Sciences at Imperial, said: "Professo r Anderson was a highly respected scientist who made an incredibly valuable contribution to the College during his time here. I'm very pleased that his illustrious career in academia, policy and industry has been recognised with an OBE, but am saddened that he isn't here to celebrate with us."

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