11 July 2005

Nobel line up at University of Dundee graduation

Photo opportunity: Chancellor with former Principals and Sir Alan Langlands, immediately following graduation ceremony, approx 3.45pm, Tuesday 12 July, Robing Room, City Chambers, Dundee

Honorary degrees will be conferred upon three distinguished figures, including two Nobel Prize winners, at the University of Dundee’s final graduation ceremony of 2005 for the Schools of Medicine and Dentistry. University Chancellor, Sir James Black, will be the first recipient in the University's history of an honorary degree of Doctor of Science, awarded as a special mark of respect to the Nobel Prize winner, who is now in his 82nd year.

Distinguished scientist and Nobel Prize winner Sir John Sulston will receive the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws, as will clinical pharmacologist Professor Sir Alasdair Breckenridge.

As part of the celebrations, Dr Ian Graham-Bryce and Professor Michael Hamlin, two former principals of the University who served under the Chancellor, will return to Dundee to join Sir James when he receives his honorary degree.

Around 300 students of medicine and dentistry will also graduate with degrees, post graduate diplomas and diplomas.

Sir James' contribution to science was recognised at the highest level in 1988 when he was awarded (jointly) the Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine, for discoveries of important principles for drug treatment which led to the development of new drugs for the treatment of a range of disorders including heart conditions and ulcers. In 2000 he was awarded the Order of Merit by HM The Queen - the highest honour which can be bestowed on an individual personally by The Queen. Sir James has been Chancellor for 12 years, during which time he has served the University with commitment, wisdom, grace and distinction.

Sir John Sulston is one of the UK's most distinguished scientists. As the Director of The Sanger Centre, Sir John became one of the world's largest contributors to the Human Genome Project. The Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine was jointly awarded to Sydney Brenner, H Robert Horvitz and Sir John in 2002 for their seminal discoveries in identifying key genes that regulate organ development and programmed cell death and showed that corresponding genes exist in higher species including man. The discoveries are important for medical research and have shed new light on the pathogenesis of many diseases.

Professor Sir Alasdair Breckenridge is one of the founding fathers of modern Clinical Pharmacology in this country, a discipline in which the UK has a highly respected international reputation. In the mid 1970s he was appointed to the Chair of Pharmacology at Liverpool and steered it towards becoming one of the outstanding departments in the UK. He has been chairman of the UK Committee on Safety of Medicines and Foundation Chairman of the UK Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency.

By Angela Durcan, Press Officer 01382 344768, out of hours: 07968298585, a.durcan@dundee.ac.uk