Faculty staff recognised in Vice Chancellor Awards 2018

Staff from the Faculty of Medicine have been recognised in this year’s Vice Chancellor Awards.

Both Laurie Lau and Vanessa Cox have been shortlisted in the Collegiality category while staff who were involved in the campaign to raise £25m to build the new Centre for Cancer Immunology have been shortlisted in the Support and Service to the University category.

Since joining the faculty in 1988, Laurie has worked alongside numerous clinical researchers and medical students in our laboratories assisting on a wide range of studies and research projects. Laurie has contributed to more than 130 publications and also completed a PhD studying mast cells in allergic conditions of the nose. Commenting on the award Laurie said: “I have enjoyed helping colleagues and students over the last 30 years and find it particularly rewarding when it has an impact on patient care.  I am fortunate to have a job in which I can make a difference, and I feel privileged that to have been nominated by colleagues for a Vice Chancellor Award and to have been shortlisted in the collegiality category.”

Vanessa joined the MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit in 1991 and is responsible for and oversees all aspects of the Unit’s IT department and ensures the production of high-quality research data throughout the Unit. This also extends to helping others both within the University and on a national and international level by way of consultation on research design and processes. She said: “I am delighted and thrilled to have been shortlisted for the VC collegiality award. It is lovely to be recognised in this way.

Members of the Faculty joined with colleagues in ODAR, Estates and Facilities and Communications and Marketing to launch the campaign to raise £25m for the new Centre for Cancer Immunology in Spring 2015. The support from staff, students and the community was outstanding and we reached the target six months ahead of schedule on World Cancer Day 2018.

Professor Tim Elliott, Director of the Centre, said: “The campaign was a huge joint effort that involved many people from across the University. We are delighted to be shortlisted for this award and is a testament to everyone’s hard work and dedication.”

The winners of the Awards will be announced on Friday 5 October 2018.