Professor Margaret Brimble becomes a Dame
15 January 2019
Distinguished Professor Margaret Brimble, Principal Investigator at the Maurice Wilkins Centre at the University of Auckland, was recently named a Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the New Year Honours.
This honour is yet another incredible achievement in Margaret’s exceptional scientific career. Last year, she became the first New Zealand-based woman scientist to be elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of London, the world’s oldest scientific organisation. She also received the 2018 George & Christine Sosnovsky Award in Cancer Therapy from the UK Royal Society of Chemistry for developing a novel innovative chemistry platform for the development of cancer vaccines.
Dame Professor Brimble works at the forefront of leading-edge drug discovery. Her pioneering medicinal chemistry work led to the discovery of trofinetide, a novel drug currently undergoing phase III trials for potential use in the treatment of rare neurological disorders Rett Syndrome and Fragile X syndrome.
Margaret is also a strong advocate for women in science and is a marvellous mentor to her many postgraduate students.
Another outstanding New Years Honour was bestowed on Associate Professor Siouxsie Wiles, Associate Investigator at the Maurice Wilkins Centre, who was named a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for her services to microbiology and science communication.
The Maurice Wilkins Centre wishes to congratulate both Professor Dame Margaret Brimble and Associate Professor Siouxsie Wiles, MNZM, on their honours.