The Paton Prize is one of the Society’s highest honours, recognising those who make outstanding and sustained contributions to toxicology and safety science.
Professor Ruth Roberts, Academic Lead for the University of Birmingham’s Drug Discovery Hub, has been awarded the Paton Prize at the British Toxicology Society Annual Congress 2026.
The Paton Prize is one of the Society’s highest honours, recognising individuals who have made outstanding and sustained contributions to toxicology and safety science. The award highlights Professor Roberts’ leadership and long-standing impact across the field.
As part of the Congress, Professor Roberts delivered a keynote lecture exploring the evolving landscape of safety science. Her talk highlighted the growing importance of innovation, new methodologies and collaboration in shaping future approaches to the discipline.
In her role leading the Birmingham Drug Discovery Hub, Professor Roberts continues to strengthen connections between academia, industry and regulatory partners. Her work supports a collaborative and translational research environment, helping to accelerate drug discovery and maximise research impact.
This recognition reflects Professor Roberts’ significant contribution to toxicology and her continued influence in shaping the future of safety science.
It is such an honour to be awarded the Paton Prize, following in the footsteps of many scientists and mentors I have always admired. The award lecture also gave me the chance to share some fun old photos of friends and colleagues from previous roles and phases of my career.
Chair in Drug Discovery
Professor Ruth Roberts is Chair in Drug Discovery at the School of Biosciences and has an extensive career in drug discovery and development.
