Two Professors and an Honorary Graduate from the University of Liverpool have been recognised in the 2024 New Year Honours list.
Professor of Pharmacology and Therapeutics Saye Khoo has been awarded an MBE for services to Infectious Diseases and Pharmacology.
Saye leads research programmes and clinical trials in infection pharmacology and has a focus on HIV, SARS-CoV-2 and tuberculosis infections. These include the international DolPHIN consortium which aims to reduce mother to child transmission of HIV and AGILE, which is the UK’s early-phase platform for experimental COVID-19 antivirals and part of the UK’s pandemic response.
He also leads the widely utilised Liverpool Drug Interactions Programmes for HIV, hepatitis and Covid-19. His Liverpool Bioanalytical Facility undertakes highly sensitive measurements in plasma, body fluids, cells and tissues to inform research into perinatal pharmacology, mucosal drug accumulation for HIV prevention, and trials of agents used for treating COVID-19, HIV, TB and snakebite.
Professor Saye Khoo said: “It’s always about team science. Everybody – the patients who continue to teach me, the willingness and trust of trial participants, the marvellous colleagues with their talent, knowledge, energy and passion – these are the real reasons to celebrate. As a team we all shared one common vision – to make HIV treatment better, and in more recent times to develop new and safe treatments for COVID-19. I want to acknowledge every single one of them in accepting such a great honour, and to thank them for being quite simply the best bunch of folk anyone could wish to work alongside.
“It’s also about family, especially my wife without whom I could not have accomplished one good thing. I am thrilled to accept this honour as an acknowledgement of her support, patience, love and trust’”
University of Liverpool Honorary Professor Simon Kenny, a National Clinical Director for Children and Young People, NHS England and Consultant Paediatric Surgeon at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital was also recognised, with an OBE for services to Paediatric Surgery.
In addition, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Chief Executive Dr Michael Eakin was honoured with an OBE for services to Music and to the community in Liverpool. Michael was made an Honorary Doctor of Law by the University in 2022.