London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine

Professor Sir Michael Rawlins, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Honorary Professor and Chair of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, has been honoured by the Queen for his services to the safety of medicines, healthcare and innovation.

A leading figure in public health, he works closely with a number of researchers at the School and teaches on the Pharmacoepidemiology & Pharmacovigilance course. In particular, Sir Michael has collaborated with colleagues at the School in research on Huntington’s disease and was among those involved in setting up an All-Party Parliamentary Group on the disease.

Sir Michael was appointed Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire (GBE) in the Queen’s Birthday Honours after more than three decades at the forefront of innovation, development and leadership in the public health sector.

Before taking up the position of chair at MHRA in 2014, he was founding Chair of the National Institute for Clinical Excellence and has previously served as Chair of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs and President of the Royal Society of Medicine. He delivered the Harveian Oration at the Royal College of Physicians in 2008 and received the Prince Mahidol Prize in 2012.

Professor Peter Piot, Director of the School, said: “Many congratulations to Sir Michael on this prestigious and richly deserved recognition. His influence and forward thinking approach to innovation and safety has played a key role in protecting public health and we are delighted that he is also able to contribute to our work through his world-class research and teaching.”