NHLI staff awarded Imperial College Medals at Graduation Day ceremony

Four members of the National Heart and Lung Institute received Medals recognising their exceptional contributions to the College and its community.

The Imperial College Medals were conferred to Professors Sian Harding, Peter Barnes, Peter Sever, and Japal Kooner as part of this year’s graduation ceremony at the Royal Albert Hall. 

The Imperial College Medal is awarded for meritorious or praiseworthy service to the College or for having otherwise enhanced its reputation, mission, and objectives. 

Professor Edwin Chilvers, Head of the NHLI, praised the Medal winners: "I am delighted by the College’s recognition of the enormous contribution made by Professors Sian Harding, Peter Barnes, Peter Sever, and Jaspal Kooner; they are world-leaders in their field and have all contributed at scale to the NHLI’s and College’s international reputation."

Professor Sian Harding

Sian is Emeritus Professor of Cardiac Pharmacology at Imperial, having recently retired from the NHLI. With a career spanning four decades, Professor Harding is an expert in changes to cardiac function in the failing heart.

"It's been a great honour to receive this medal and I’m happy to feel, as I retire, that I made a difference during my time at Imperial" Prof Sian Harding

She pioneered the study of the single cardiomyocyte and discovered underlying pathways of neurohormonal dysfunction in heart failure and Takotsubo syndrome (commonly known as ‘broken heart syndrome'). This led her to establish the UK’s first human gene therapy trials in patients with severe heart failure. 

Professor Peter Barnes

Peter Barnes is Senior Research Investigator at the NHLI, and Honorary Consultant Physician at Royal Brompton Hospital. 

Peter is a world-leading respiratory pharmacologist and clinician with expertise in the mechanisms and treatment of asthma and chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD). His research discoveries have had a major impact on patient care globally, including the now widespread use of exhaled nitric oxide to monitor asthma control and the use of inhaled corticosteroids and long-acting bronchodilator therapies in asthma and COPD treatment. 

Reflecting on receiving the medal, Peter said: “I am greatly honoured to receive the Imperial Medal in recognition of research into airway disease mechanisms and treatment. It has been an enormous privilege to work at NHLI and Imperial over several decades with such outstanding national and international researchers and colleagues.”

Professor Peter Sever

Peter Sever is Professor of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics at NHLI and Honorary Consultant Physician at the Imperial Healthcare NHS Trust.  

Peter is one of the world’s leading clinical pharmacologists. His research has informed national and international guidance for the best treatment of hypertension and optimal risk prevention in cardiovascular disease. Peter has also championed the College’s clinical pharmacology training and continues to lead clinical trials investigating new approaches to reduce the incidence and impact of cardiovascular disease. 

Commenting on receiving the Medal, Peter said: “It is a great honour to receive the Imperial College Medal in recognition of a lifetime's contribution to medical science. One often forgets that much of what we achieve is the result of teamwork and collaboration, and I am grateful to all the members of my teams over the years and the collaborators without whom those achievements would not have been possible.”

Professor Jaspal Kooner

Jaspal Kooner is Professor of Clinical Cardiology at the National Heart and Lung Institute at Imperial, and Consultant Cardiologist at Imperial College Healthcare and London North West Hospitals Trust. 

Jaspal has attained global recognition for his contribution in areas of scientific research, clinical cardiovascular medicine, and training and development of others. Alongside this highly influential research, Jaspal has mentored over 1500 junior doctors in cardiovascular medicine, many of whom are now in senior NHS consultant posts in UK, and overseas. He has established and leads structured education and clinical skills training courses for trainees, with over 25,000 doctors attending to date. 

Credit for Jaspal Kooner's image: Ram Shergill