Professor Richard Oreffo Named on King’s New Year Honours List

Emeritus Professor Richard Oreffo has been recognised in the King’s New Year Honours list and appointed as an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE).

Richard worked in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Southampton for more than 25 years and was given the honour for services to education equality and to musculoskeletal science.

He co-founded the Centre for Human Development, Stem Cells and Regeneration and founded the Cowrie Scholarship Foundation, a national charitable organisation which improves access to higher education for talented disadvantaged Black British students.

Reflecting on the honour, Richard said: “I feel privileged and honoured to receive this award and I am grateful to many inspirational colleagues and students that supported my work on skeletal biology and skeletal regenerative medicine across three decades.”

“I am also delighted to be recognised in an area I feel so passionately about, equity, equality and inclusion of education for talented Black British students."

The King’s New Year Honours celebrate individuals who have made outstanding contributions to their communities and fields of expertise across the UK. Richard’s recognition underscores the profound impact of his work in both science and social equity.