UCL: UCL staff and alumni recognised in 2022 New Year’s Honours
Professor John Hardy (UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology) was appointed Knight Bachelor for services to human health in improving understanding of dementia and neurodegenerative diseases.
Professor Hardy is Chair of the Molecular Biology of Neurological Disease at UCL and a member of the UK Dementia Research Institute at UCL. He is an international figure in the research of neurodegenerative disease and is globally recognised for his contribution to developing breakthrough therapies for dementia. He created the amyloid cascade hypothesis of Alzheimer’s disease – the major theory of the disease.
Professor Hardy said: “It is a great honour of course to get the knighthood and I’m very proud of the work we did working with families with Alzheimer’s disease collected by my Institute of Neurology colleague Professor Martin Rossor.
“I think we now know much more about what causes Alzheimer’s disease. But we also have to acknowledge that our work has not yet led to much better treatments. Hopefully the next period of clinical and basic research will start to make that important breakthrough.”
Lord Kakkar (UCL Division of Surgery & Interventional Science) was made a Knight Bachelor for services to healthcare and public health. Lord Kakkar is an Emeritus Professor of Surgery at UCL and Chair of UCL Partners, which brings together researchers, NHS, industry and others to use research and innovation to improve health and healthcare.
Professor Russell Viner (UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health) was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for services to child and adolescent health, particularly during Covid-19. He is Professor in Adolescent Health at UCL.
Alongside his academic contributions, Professor Viner is Vice Chair of the NHS England Transformation Board for Children and Young People and has been a member of SAGE (Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies) during the pandemic, advising on children and young people. He was also President of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health from 2018 to 2021.
Commenting on the honour, he said: “I see this as recognition not just for me but for the teams I’ve worked closely with, particularly the very hard yards during the pandemic. I’m humbled and deeply appreciative.”
Professor Hugh Montgomery (UCL Division of Medicine) was appointed Officer of the Order of British Empire (OBE) for services to intensive care medicine and climate change. He is Professor of Intensive Care Medicine at UCL and Director of the UCL Centre for Human Health and Performance. He also co-chairs the international Lancet Countdown, which tracks how climate change is affecting human health.
Professor Montgomery said: “Honours really don’t belong to a person. UCL is extraordinary in its people and goal to better society, and it is this community that this honour largely belongs.”
Professor Lauge Poulsen (UCL Political Science) was made an Officer of the Order of British Empire (OBE) for services to UK trade policy. He is Professor of International Relations & Law and Deputy Head of the School of Public Policy at UCL. Following the Brexit vote, he led a programme to train civil servants in trade policy – one of the largest training programmes in the history of the civil service.
Professor Poulsen said: “I’m honoured to have received this award. It’s been a privilege to help the Foreign Office build what may be the world’s largest trade policy training programme.”
Professor Alan Cottenden (UCL Medical Physics & Biomedical Engineering) was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to sufferers of incontinence.
Professor Cottenden, who is Emeritus Professor of Incontinence Technology at UCL, said: “It’s gratifying that the award recognises the needs of people living with such a taboo condition as incontinence which, though it rarely takes lives, seriously diminishes the quality of life of millions. Working in multidisciplinary teams – including people with incontinence – to improve containment technology continues to challenge and fascinate me.”
Other UCL alumni, fellows, honorary degree holders and donors represented in this year’s list include:
Leora Anne Cruddas, Visiting Professor at the UCL Institute of Education – CBE for services to education
Professor Kevin Fenton (Honorary Professor at the UCL Institute of Global Health) – CBE for services to public health
Professor Anthony Finkelstein CBE, former Dean of UCL Engineering Sciences and Head of UCL Computer Science – Knight Bachelor for public service
Professor Sir Patrick Vallance, former Head of UCL Medicine – Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath for services to science in government
Claudia Roden (Honorary Fellow at UCL) – CBE for services to literature
Dr David Llewellyn (UCL alumnus) – CBE for services to higher education, to the agri-food chain and to rural industries
William Marks (UCL alumnus) – OBE for public service
David Newton (UCL alumnus) – OBE for services to people experiencing fuel poverty
Sanjay Lobo (UCL alumnus) – MBE for services to older people, particularly during Covid-19
Zimran Samuel (UCL alumnus) – MBE for services to victims of domestic abuse
Clare Gollop (UCL alumna) – Medallist of the Order of the British Empire (BEM) for services to victims of modern slavery and vulnerable young people
Professor Benjamin Hodgkinson (UCL alumnus) – BEM for services to the NHS during Covid-19
Savraj Singh (UCL alumnus) – BEM for services to the community in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, particularly during Covid-19