Queen Mary academics’ research excellence recognised on global scale
In recent months, academics across Queen Mary University of London have been recognised nationally and internationally for their research excellence, prowess and achievements.
Recognition of the University’s academics on such a scale, and across a variety of disciplines, further demonstrates the world-leading research carried out at Queen Mary, which is driving progress, changing policies and reducing inequalities locally, nationally and internationally.
This commitment to improving lives through academic and research excellence is engrained in Queen Mary’s 240-year history, alongside its dedication to social justice and social mobility.
Among the first to be recognised was Professor Andrew Livingston, who was presented with a prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award from the World Chemical Engineering Council in June 2025 in recognition of his outstanding contributions to chemical engineering.
In the same month, two professors in Queen Mary’s Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry were recognised for their outstanding research contributions. Tilli Tansey, Emeritus Professor of Medical History and Pharmacology, received a CBE as part of the King’s birthday honours, while Emeritus Professor Sir Jack Cuzick was awarded Cancer Research UK’s inaugural ‘Outstanding Achievement in Cancer Prevention’ Research Award.
Shortly thereafter, and for the fourth year in a row, three Queen Mary researchers – Professors Frances Balkwill, Irene Leigh, and Claudia Langenberg, all from the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry – were named among the Best Female Scientists in the UK by Research.com. That same organisation also named Dr Yongxin Yang from the Faculty of Science and Engineering as one of their Rising Starts of Science for his work in machine learning.
Professor Andrea Brady, based in Queen Mary’s Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, was, in the same month, awarded the Truman Capote Award of Literary Criticism in Memory of Newton Arvin. Administered by the University of Iowa, Professor Brady received this prestigious global award for her book Poetry and Bondage: A History and Theory of Lyric Constraint.
October also saw Professor Paul Heritage, Director of People’s Palace Projects at Queen Mary, be awarded the Pedro Ernesto Medal. He received the medal, Rio de Janeiro’s highest municipal honour, in recognition of three decades of research and cultural collaborations and the impact it has had on communities across Brazil
Continuing the trend for international recognition of academic excellence, in November Professor Sir Mark Caulfield, Vice Principal for Health at Queen Mary, was awarded the 2025 Lombardy Research Prize for his pioneering research in genomic medicine, which is transforming prevention, diagnosis and treatment for multiple conditions including cardiovascular disease and cancer.
Huge congratulations to each of these academics who have been recognised for their research excellence, whether that’s a lifetime of work or whether their potential is being recognised. We are incredibly proud they are part of our Queen Mary community and of the positive impact their work is having across the globe.
Read more:
- Queen Mary recognised as top global university
- Thomas Powles named in TIME's list of the 100 most influential people in global health this year 
- Queen Mary early-career researchers awarded prestigious European Research Council Starting Grants
- Queen Mary researcher awarded prestigious Simons Foundation grant for black hole research
- Dr Rageshri Dhairyawan wins Campaigner for Health Equity Award at Women of the Year Awards