Queen's Birthday Honours for HPRU-EZI Members

(Professor Tom Solomon CBE, Professor William Hope OBE, Professor Peter Horby KBE)

Three leading academics from HPRU-EZI have been recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list for their services to research and the COVID-19 response.

Professor Tom Solomon, Director of the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Health Protection Research Unit in Emerging and Zoonotic Infections, has been honoured with a CBE, Professor William Hope, Director of the Centre of Excellence in Infectious Diseases Research, has received an OBE, and Professor Peter Horby, Co-Director of HPRU-EZI, Director of the Pandemic Sciences Centre, and Professor of Emerging and Infectious Diseases and Global Health, becomes a Knight Bachelor. As well as being eminent researchers in their own specialist fields, all three have played pivotal roles in leading the UK's response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Professor Tom Solomon CBE

Professor Solomon’s CBE is in recognition of his services to neurological and emerging infections research, including during the COVID-19 response.

Professor Solomon said: “I am truly honoured by this award, which reflects the tremendous support I have had from family and friends, plus the enormous efforts of a very large group of colleagues over many years. When I first started working on emerging infections in Asia 25 years ago, many people thought this was a rather esoteric and niche subject. But over the last 18 months we have all seen the enormous impact such infections can have, and how important an area this is.”

Professor Louise Kenny, Executive Pro-Vice-Chancellor for the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, said: “Professor Tom Solomon has dedicated his career to addressing the threat of emerging viruses, especially those which infect the brain. As Director of the NIHR Health Protection Research Unit in Emerging and Zoonotic Infections, Tom has played a critical national role in our response to the COVID-19 pandemic and has also found time to communicate complex science to a wide audience via his wonderful podcast.”

Professor William Hope OBE

Professor Hope’s OBE is for services to the Centre of Excellence in Infectious Diseases Research (CEIDR), infectious diseases and COVID-19.

During the pandemic he took on a leadership role in Liverpool STOP COVID, which coordinated Liverpool City Region’s response to COVID-19. He helped raise and distribute funding to support researchers in Liverpool and helped lead and manage a new structure to facilitate the coordination of COVID-19 clinical research in the city. As NIHR National Specialty Co-Lead for Infectious Diseases, he also helped coordinate the UK’s response to COVID-19.

Professor Hope said: “I am deeply honoured by this award, which reflects the commitment of many people who have worked tirelessly to ensure our world is a better and safer place. I would especially like to thank the University of Liverpool, my colleagues, family, mentors and research team who have always stood by me in good times and bad.”

Professor Louise Kenny, Executive Pro-Vice-Chancellor for the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, said: “This honour for the Director of Liverpool’s Centre for Excellence in Infectious Diseases Research (CEIDR) is a reflection not only of the outstanding leadership William has shown to the city of Liverpool and the wider region in combating the COVID-19 pandemic but also for his career long dedication and research excellence in addressing the threat of Antimicrobial Resistance.”

Professor Peter Horby KBE

Peter Horby, Co-Director of HPRU-EZI, Director of the Pandemic Sciences Centre, and Professor of Emerging and Infectious Diseases and Global Health, becomes a Knight Bachelor for services to Medical Research. He co-leads the UK Randomised Evaluation of COVID-19 therapy (RECOVERY) trial, the largest randomised controlled trial of COVID-19 treatments in the world.

Professor Horby said, ‘‘I am delighted to receive this honour and indebted to my family, friends and colleagues for their immense support and inspiration throughout my career. I’m incredibly fortunate to work with brilliant, dedicated colleagues across the globe, who collaborate tirelessly to make the world a safer place.’

Our warmest congratulations goes out to all three professors receiving honours.