Royal Honour for University of Leicester

February 2003
No 36 

Staff from the University of Leicester were honoured by HM The Queen for their achievements during a ceremony at Buckingham Palace in February.

University representatives were invited to the Palace to receive the Queen’s Anniversary Prize for achievements in the world-famous Department of Genetics. It is the second time the University has won this prestigious prize.

The Department of Genetics at the University of Leicester is the only 5-star research rated department in the UK and has been awarded the Prize for pioneering research and its impact on society.

Major research highlights, for which the department has achieved recognition, include:

• Discovery of DNA genetic fingerprinting
• Study of heritable DNA changes and the impact of environmental factors such as radiation
• DNA defects in inherited disorders –including deafness, birth defects, psoriasis and eczema
• Study of infectious diseases
• Analysing aspects of behaviour
• Investigation of the genes and molecular mechanisms involved in diseases such as cancer
• Probing human DNA diversity and origins

Attending the ceremony at Buckingham Palace on February 19 – which was be preceded the evening before by a banquet at the Guildhall – were the Chancellor Sir Michael Atiyah, Vice-Chancellor Professor Robert Burgess, the Head of Genetics Dr Annette Cashmore, Professor Sir Alec Jeffreys, Genetics Laboratory Manager Mr Terry Lymn and five postgraduate and undergraduate students.

Dr Cashmore said: “This has been a tremendous year for the Department of Genetics and the University of Leicester. We have recently launched the Institute of Genetics which brings together more than 250 researchers from across the University with the Department of Genetics at its centre.

“We are going from strength to strength. It is therefore particularly pleasing to receive this tremendous recognition.”

NOTE TO NEWSDESK: For more information, please contact Dr Cashmore on 0116 252 3438.

This document has been approved by the head of department or section.