Close
UCL School of Pharmacy professor recognised in New Year Honours
3 January 2025
Congratulations to Professor Ijeoma Uchegbu who has been awarded a Damehood in the New Year Honours 2025.
Professor Cate Whittlesea, Director of the UCL School of Pharmacy, said: "I am delighted to learn that Professor Ijeoma Uchegbu has been made a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire, for services to the chemical sciences and to diversity and inclusion. Ijeoma is an inspirational leader, researcher and educator. She is an internationally renowned researcher of novel pharmaceuticals who has also championed equality and diversity. Ijeoma is a valued colleague, and we at the UCL School of Pharmacy look forward to celebrating with Ijeoma this prestigious award."
Dame Ijeoma is Chair in Pharmaceutical Nanoscience at UCL. She has had an illustrious career of research stretching from the molecular design of novel pharmaceuticals through to how these products work in practice, including designing nanosystems which deliver genes and peptides to the brain, drugs to the retina from eye drops, and that facilitate the oral absorption of hydrophobic drugs.
Dame Ijeoma is Chief Scientific Officer and co-founder of Nanomerics Ltd., which develops precision medicines that focus on reducing development costs, resources and timeline. The UCL spinout was recently awarded the King’s Award for Enterprise.
She has been a prominent ambassador for UCL and is known for her work in science public engagement and as a champion of equality and diversity, having previously served as UCL’s Pro-Vice Provost for Africa and The Middle East and as the UCL’s Provost’s Envoy for Race Equality.
Dame Ijeoma is a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences and an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry, and she has earned numerous awards throughout her career including the UK Department for Business, Innovation and Skills’ Women of Outstanding Achievement in Science Engineering and Technology award. She sits on Wellcome’s Board of Governors.
Dame Ijeoma commented: “I am beyond thrilled to receive this honour. In my wildest dreams, I would never have imagined it. I am very grateful and proud to have been recognised.”