Imperial community celebrates New Year Honours

Imperial researchers have been recognised in the 2025 New Year Honours list.

Imperial researchers have been recognised for their services to medicine, science communication, air pollution research and human health in the 2025 New Year Honours list. 

Professor Robert J Wilkinson from the Department of Infectious Disease receives an OBE for services to infectious disease research, Professor Daniel M Davis, Head of Imperial's Life Sciences Department, receives an MBE for services to science communication, and Professor Frank Kelly, Battcock Chair in Community Health and Policy in the School of Public Health receives a CBE for services to air pollution research and to human health.

Professor Robert J Wilkinson OBE 

Professor Robert J Wilkinson is a Professor of Infectious Diseases at Imperial and Principal Group Leader at The Francis Crick Institute. He also has an appointment as an Honorary Professor at the University of Cape Town, where he directs The Centre for Infectious Diseases Research in Africa (CIDRI-Africa) and the Wellcome Discovery Research Platforms in Infection.

Professor Wilkinson’s research focusses on the clinical and immunological aspects of tuberculosis, particularly in the context of HIV-1 infection.  HIV and TB are two of the most pressing public health issues in Africa: in South Africa, many hundreds of people still die prematurely per day because of HIV, many due to co-existent TB.  His team’s studies aim to increase our understanding of how TB develops by examining the disease’s cellular mechanisms.  This knowledge could ultimately lead to significant improvements in prevention and treatment and save many lives each year.

"I am very grateful to those colleagues who should interpret this as an endorsement of their great contribution and I thank my nominator and those who supported that nomination.” Professor Robert J Wilkinson

Professor Wilkinson trained in medicine at Cambridge and Oxford universities and at the Royal Postgraduate Medical School at Hammersmith Hospital. He undertook postdoctoral research at Imperial and Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland.  He was a Medical Research Council (MRC) Programme Leader in the Division of Mycobacterial Research at the MRC National Institute for Medical Research and established the Tuberculosis Laboratory at the Francis Crick Institute in 2016.  He is a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences and the Royal College of Physicians and has co-authored around 456 articles and reviews on infectious diseases with an emphasis on tuberculosis.

Professor Wilkinson said “Although awards are made to individuals, in my case this award reflects my fortune in working with many hundreds of excellent people over many years to foster high quality research and a good research culture. I am very grateful to those colleagues who should interpret this as an endorsement of their great contribution and I thank my nominator and those who supported that nomination.”

Professor Daniel M Davis MBE 

Daniel M Davis is Head of Life Sciences and Professor of Immunology, and his achievements in microscopy have helped pioneer the nanoscale biology of immune cell recognition. He holds a PhD in Physics but switched to studying the human immune system as a postdoctoral researcher at Harvard University. He became a Professor at Imperial at age 35 and later he held the position of Professor of Immunology at the University of Manchester. He is a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences.

Professor Davis is a passionate science communicator and a popular speaker at science, literary and music festivals. He is also the author of several books published by Penguin Random House: The Compatibility Gene was longlisted for the Royal Society Science Book Prize; The Beautiful Cure was shortlisted for the Royal Society Science Book Prize, was a Book of the Year in the Times, Telegraph and New Scientist, and has been translated into 15 languages; and The Secret Body, which was a finalist for a Prose Award by the Association of American Publishers. His next book will be published soon; Self Defence: A Myth-busting Guide to Immune Health.

“A huge number of people have helped me in this, and I thank you all, deeply. Everyone who has been in my research team, guiding my thinking over many years." Professor Daniel M Davis

His articles tackling complex and high-profile immunology topics such as vaccines and the use of genetic data in research have been published by many of the UK's leading newspapers, as well as in New Scientist, Wired, and Scientific American. He has appeared on many radio and TV programmes, including The Infinite Monkey Cage for BBC Radio 4, and Channel 4’s Sunday Brunch.

Professor Davis said “A huge number of people have helped me in this, and I thank you all, deeply. Everyone who has been in my research team, guiding my thinking over many years. Countless other scientists too who have shaped my research and life in general. And everyone who has helped me present immunology to a wide audience, from producers to editors. My family too, of course.

“When I started this, immunology was not really a big topic in public discussion. ‘Why would anyone want a book about HLA genes?’ someone once said. But things have changed. The immune system is a frontier of science whose time has come. By writing and talking about its wonders and its importance, I hope that I have done something useful and meaningful.”

Professor Frank Kelly CBE

Professor Frank Kelly holds the inaugural Humphrey Battcock Chair in Community Health and Policy, within the School of Public Health in a new global centre of air pollution research. He previously served as Chair of Environmental Health at King's College London, where he was Director of the Environmental Research Group, Director of the NIHR Health Protection Research Unit in Health Impact of Environmental Hazards and Deputy Director of the MRC Centre for Environment & Health.

The substantial research activity over which he presides spans all aspects of air pollution research from toxicology through to science policy. The experimental research examines the toxicity of airborne particulate matter, diesel and biodiesel exhaust emissions, wood smoke and identifiers of biomarkers of exposure.

"This honour is a reflection of collective effort and dedication of many talented and wonderful individuals around the world." Professor Frank Kelly

A new area of investigation is ambient microplastics, where work is focusing on their identification, detection and potential health effects. He has led studies on the urban airshed within London, including the impact of the introduction of London’s Congestion Charging Zone and the Ultra Low Emission Zone.

Professor Kelly has published over 450 peer-reviewed papers as well as many conference papers and books (as author or editor) on the toxicology and health effects of ozone, nitrogen dioxide and particulate pollution. He provides policy support to the World Health Organisation on air pollution issues and is a member of the Health Effects Institute (HEI) Review Committee. He is past Chairman of COMEAP, the UK’s Department of Health’s Expert Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollutants, past President of the European Society for Free Radical Research and past Chairman of the British Association for Lung Research.

Professor Kelly said: "I feel incredibly privileged to have received this recognition - especially since it acknowledges work that has been, and continues to be so very rewarding. I am immensely thankful to those who have supported and inspired me along the way. This honour is a reflection of collective effort and dedication of many talented and wonderful individuals around the world."

Professor Shehan Hettiaratchy (Department of Bioengineering) is awarded an OBE for services to the UK’s emergency health response overseas.

Further awards

Philanthropist Mr Humphrey Battcock, who established the Humphrey Battcock Chair in Community Health and Policy at Imperial, receives a CBE for services to tackling homelessness and to education. 

Professor Sir Leszek Borysiewicz, a member of the Imperial College Council and a former Deputy Rector at Imperial, is upgraded to a Knight Grand Cross for services to cancer research, clinical research, medicine and to charities. 

Professor Dame Julia Buckingham, who previously held several roles at Imperial including ProRector for Education and Academic Affairs, is made a Dame for services to education. 

Sir Jeremy Isaacs, who has been helpful with philanthropic connections with Imperial, is made a Knight.