Two leading academics from the College of Medical and Dental Sciences at the University of Birmingham have been recognised in the 2016 New Year Honours.
Professor Charles Craddock, Professor of Haemato-Oncology at the University, and a Consultant Haematologist at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham (QEHB), receives the CBE for services to medicine and medical research, while Professor Deirdre Kelly, Honorary Professor of Paediatric Hepatology at the University and Founding Director of the Liver Unit for Birmingham Children's Hospital NHS Foundation Trust was awarded a CBE for services to Children and Young People with Liver Disease.
Professor Craddock is Director of the Blood and Marrow Transplant Unit at QEHB and heads the hospital’s Centre for Clinical Haematology. He was Transitional Director of the £24 million Birmingham Institute of Translational Medicine, which opened last year, which helps progress the very latest scientific research findings from the University into enhanced treatments for patients across a range of major health issues.
In 2003 he-founded the blood cancer charity Cure Leukaemia, which has established a network of specialist research nurses.
Professor Deirdre Kelly set up the Paediatric Liver Unit at Birmingham Children's Hospital in 1989 which provides a national and international service for children with liver failure and undergoing liver transplantation. The unit has helped transform the outcome for these children by increasing survival rate to 90 per cent.
Professor Kelly also runs an active research programme focusing on viral hepatitis in children, molecular genetics of inherited liver disease, quality and outcome of life following liver and/or intestinal transplantation. She is on the Council of the General Medical Council and is a Non-Executive Director of the Health Research Authority
In addition to this, two MBChB alumni have also been recognised in the New Year’s Honours list. Dr Jenny Harries, Public Health England's Regional Director for the South of England, who was awarded her MBCHB at the University in 1984, received an OBE for services to public health and Dr Darren Daniels, Chief Executive of the UK Sepsis Trust, who was awarded his MBChB in 1994, received an OBE for services to sepsis sufferers.
Find out more:
- Read more about Deirdre Kelly and Charlie Craddock in the Birmingham Mail
- Read more about Deirdre Kelly in the ITV News
- Find out more about the Institute of Translational Medicine