Four Manchester Professors recognised in King’s Birthday Honours list
17 Jun 2024
Four professors from the University have been recognised in the King’s Birthday Honours in recognition of their extraordinary contributions and service.
Professor Ian Hall
Professor Ian Hall is a Professor of Mathematical Epidemiology and Statistics and has been awarded an OBE for his services to public health, to epidemiology and to adult social care, particularly during Covid-19.
Professor Hall is a long-standing member of SPI-M (the pandemic disease modelling advisory group) and played a critical role in the operations of this group during the swine flu and Covid-19 pandemics.
During the Covid-19 pandemic he was academic chair of the SAGE working group of Social Care and participated in the SAGE Environmental Modelling Group as well as attending SAGE itself.
He was also involved in a number of research projects, including the national core study on transmission (PROTECT) and Project TRACK to understand and control the risks on public transport. He also helped analyse data from a new heat map, providing a national picture of the spread over time.
Professor Richard Wakeford
Professor Richard Wakeford has been awarded an OBE for his for services to the advancement of the science of radiation protection.
Professor Wakeford is an Honorary Professor in Epidemiology in the Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health (COEH), having been Professor in Epidemiology at the Centre before retiring at the end of 2019. He specialises in the epidemiology of exposure to ionising radiation, particularly as related to radiological protection.
Professor Wakeford is a member of various committees, including the UN Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation and the International Commission on Radiological Protection. He was a member of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) following the Fukushima nuclear accident in Japan, and for 25 years was Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Radiological Protection.
Professor Paul Klapper
Professor Paul Klapper has been awarded an OBE for services to viral diagnostic testing.
Professor Klapper began his career in virology in 1976 working as a laboratory technician at Booth Hall Children’s Hospital. He completed his PhD while working at Manchester Royal Infirmary on the diagnosis of herpes simplex encephalitis and contributed to a reliable molecular diagnostic test for the condition. He also helped establish independent quality assurance testing in the infancy of viral molecular diagnostic testing.
Throughout his career, Professor Klapper notably worked with the Greater Manchester Hepatitis C testing strategy, developing community-based testing methods to aid control of the HCV pandemic. In 1981, he became an NHS Clinical Scientist in Manchester and Leeds, and in 1991 became a Fellow of the Royal College of Pathology.
On retiring from the NHS in 2012, Professor Klapper joined The University of Manchester as a Professor of Clinical Virology. Early in 2020, he volunteered to help establish large scale Covid-19 testing and became the clinical lead for the Alderley Park testing facility. He also served as a Clinical Advisor for testing with the Department of Health.
Professor Klapper continues to conduct vital research in blood-borne virus infection and in congenital human cytomegalovirus infection.
Professor Paul Howarth
Professor Paul Howarth has been awarded a CBE for his significant contribution and service to the nuclear industry and to UK research and development (R&D).
Professor Howarth has had a distinguished career working in and for the nuclear sector, building a reputation as one of the leading figures in the UK and globally.
After completing his degree in Physics and Astrophysics and PhD in Nuclear Physics, he started his career working on the European Fusion Programme. Early in his career he was awarded a prestigious Royal Society Fellowship to work in Japan on their nuclear programme.
On returning to the UK, he continued to work on nuclear fission leading the UK’s advanced reactor programme. He worked at British Nuclear Fuels, co-founded the Dalton Nuclear Institute at the University and worked closely with UK Government on building the case for new nuclear build.
Professor Howarth was appointed CEO for the National Nuclear Laboratory (NNL) in 2011, which now reinvests profits into nuclear science and technology, and supports public and private sector nuclear organisations.
More information
The birthday honours are awarded by the King following recommendations by the prime minister, senior government ministers, or members of the public.
The awards recognise active community champions, innovative social entrepreneurs, pioneering scientists, passionate health workers and dedicated volunteers who have made significant achievements in public life or committed themselves to serving and helping Britain.