University of Bristol Emeritus Professor David Gunnell is an epidemiologist and public health physician and has been awarded a CBE for services to public health and suicide prevention.
His research programme focuses on understanding life-course influences on adult mental health and suicide prevention. He has been a trustee for the Samaritans and worked with a number of other charitable organisations in the field of mental health. His research has contributed to capacity building and suicide-reduction strategies in the UK and globally.
He has been a member of England’s and the WHO’s suicide prevention strategy groups. During the COVID pandemic he led the International COVID-19 Suicide Prevention Research Collaboration that helped contribute to understanding the impact of COVID and associated public health prevention measures on suicide risk. David was also an honorary consultant at North Bristol NHS Hospital Trust.
Professor Gunnell said: “I’m deeply honoured to receive this award. Research is a team effort and over the last 30 years I’ve been privileged to work with a wonderful group of research colleagues, support staff, mental and public health professionals, volunteers and people bereaved by suicide. This award in no small part reflects the honour it has been to work with them and I hope it helps raise awareness of the daily tragedy of suicide around the UK and worldwide and the importance of concerted societal efforts to prevent these deaths."
Professor John Sparrow, Honorary Professor of Ophthalmic Health Services Research and Applied Epidemiology, receives an MBE for services to ophthalmology. His work has made a huge contribution to the fields of glaucoma and cataract treatment.
As an NHS Consultant Ophthalmologist based at Bristol Eye Hospital, he treated patients and led multidisciplinary teams for over 30 years. During that time, Professor Sparrow spearheaded a national audit into cataract surgery and initiated an age-related macular degeneration audit, while also leading on the development of NICE and Royal College of Ophthalmologists’ glaucoma guidelines. He has produced over 300 publications, including 120 original research papers.
Professor Sparrow said: “Being awarded an MBE is a truly incredible honour. I am at the same time humbled and immensely proud that my work has been recognised in this way in the King’s Birthday Honours. Without the huge and much appreciated support of my work from innumerable colleagues, family and friends, this could never have been achieved. I am most grateful to you all.”
Andrew Mumford, Emeritus Professor of Genomic Medicine at Bristol Medical School, has been awarded an MBE for his services to genomic medicine.
The honour recognised Professor Mumford’s groundbreaking research and clinical leadership that has significantly improved genetic diagnosis and improving clinical care for inherited disorders and cancer in the NHS and worldwide.
Professor Mumford led the groundbreaking NHS 100,000 Genomes Project in SW England and as Medical Director of the South West England NHS Genomic Laboratory Hub, he oversaw the development and implementation of genomic medicine for rare diseases and cancer across SW England. As Research Director of the SW England NHS Genomic Medicine Service alliance, Professor Mumford implemented the Newborn Genomes Programme (Generation study) at NHS sites across SW England that aims to determine the efficacy of using genomic technology to screen for more than 200 rare inherited disorders in 100,000 newborn babies.
Earlier identification of rare disorders before symptoms occur enables families access to the right support and monitoring and treatment through the NHS much sooner. Timely intervention can help prevent longer-term health complications, reduce hospital admissions, and support children to live healthier lives.
Professor Mumford has also assembled a discovery research team at the University of Bristol that developed new analytical methodology to identify the genetic basis of multiple heritable rare diseases. This high-impact work has significantly advanced genetic diagnosis and improved clinical care for children and families worldwide who are affected by rare conditions. In a recent discovery, made in collaboration with colleagues at Mount Sinai Hospital and Stanford University in the US, Professor Mumford helped identify faults in the RNU4-2 and RNU2-2 genes that are responsible for a common and often severe neurodevelopmental disorder.
Professor Andrew Mumford said: “I am delighted and truly moved by this honour. I am extremely grateful to colleagues and collaborators and above all families affected by genetic disorders, whose support has been instrumental in these achievements.”
David Knowles FREng, Professor of Nuclear Engineering in the School of Electrical, Electronic and Mechanical Engineering, a previous Co-Director of the South West Nuclear Hub, and CEO of the Henry Royce Institute, has been awarded a CBE for services to academia and industry.
Professor Knowles has built a varied career spanning both academia and industry, with expertise in structural engineering, materials science and innovation. He has been Professor of Nuclear Engineering at Bristol for the last decade.
His work has focused primarily on the application of advanced materials and engineering research to address major industrial and national challenges across transport, energy, petrochemical and infrastructure sectors. Professor Knowles has a long-standing academic track record with over 100 refereed journal papers covering a range of topics including micromechanical modelling and experimentation, data centric engineering, AI and fracture mechanics, structural health monitoring, risk assessment, creep, corrosion fatigue, life/condition assessment procedures and their application in turbomachinery, nuclear, renewable power and petrochemical plant.
He has also played a central role in establishing the National Materials Innovation Leadership Group, chaired by Allan Cook CBE and working closely with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), helping to strengthen collaboration across the UK materials community and provide a more unified voice for the sector in support of national materials science and economic objectives.
Professor Knowles said: “I feel incredibly privileged and proud to have received this honour. It is a recognition not just of my own work, but of everything that the outstanding teams and institutes I’ve been fortunate to be part of have achieved together over many years.
“I would like to acknowledge the contribution of the many colleagues and collaborators I’ve worked alongside across both academia and industry. Their talent, dedication and shared commitment to innovation have been central to everything we have accomplished.
“I am especially grateful to the University of Bristol for encouraging me back into the world of research and innovation almost a decade ago. The former and current members of the Solid Mechanics Research Group continue to inspire me and keep me connected to the remarkable innovation taking place in our field.
“Naturally, I owe a great debt of gratitude to my family, whose encouragement and support have sustained me along the way.”
University of Bristol alumni and honorary graduates
Other notable award recipients with connections to the University of Bristol include:
- Julia Donaldson, writer and children’s author, and a University of Bristol alumna and honorary graduate, has been awarded a damehood for services to literature.
- Peter Lord and David Sproxton, founders of Aardman Animation and University of Bristol honorary graduates, are awarded knighthoods for their services to the animation industry, the creative industries and to charity.
- Alastair King, Lord Mayor of the City of London and a University of Bristol alumnus, receives a knighthood for services to pensions reform, to the promotion of international business and voluntary and charitable service.
- Brian McConnell, Chief Executive of Hydrock and a University of Bristol alumnus, has been awarded an OBE for services to engineering.
- Heather Frankham, founder of Bud Systems and a University of Bristol alumna, has been awarded an MBE for services to education and skills.
- Bernard Mensah, President of International, Bank of America and Chief Executive Officer at Merrill Lynch International, and a University of Bristol alumnus has been awarded a CBE for services to finance and the economy.