The University of Southampton will award an honorary degree to Professor Lucy Chappell on Thursday
The celebrations form part of a week of winter graduation ceremonies in Southampton’s O2 Guildhall. Professor Chappell is Chief Executive Officer for the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), the research delivery vehicle for the UK Department of Health and Social Care. She has overall responsibility for DHSC research and development and for supporting life sciences across the department. Southampton and the wider region plays host to several major pieces of NIHR infrastructure, including the NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, the NIHR Applied Research Collaboration Wessex and the NIHR Southampton Clinical Research Facility. Wessex Health Partners is working to help spread the benefits of such facilities across the region. Christine McGrath, Managing Director of Wessex Health Partners, said: “It will be our great pleasure to come together to celebrate Lucy’s honorary degree. The NIHR funds major centres which are at the forefront of advancing health and care through research and innovation, and her visit to the region helps us showcase the importance of this work.” Professor Chappell provides science advice to ministers across a range of health topics and is involved in cross-government science policy. Lucy is also Professor of Obstetrics at King’s College London, working mainly in clinical trials in pregnancy, and a practicing Consultant Obstetrician at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust.