Professor Gilbert joins a cohort of just over 100 Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) Honorary Fellows, including Nobel Prize winners, former RSC Presidents, executives from leading global businesses, and other leading chemists.
The Honorary Fellowship was awarded to Professor Gilbert for her outstanding work in co-developing the Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine. The vaccine, which was made available on a non-profit basis to low-income countries during the COVID-19 pandemic, saved more than 6 million lives during its first year of rollout alone.
Professor Gilbert received the Honorary Fellowship alongside three other scientists: University of York’s Sir John Holman, renowned climate scientist Professor Susan Solomon and Professor Zhong-Qun Tian from Xiamen University, China. The award will be officially presented to her at the RSC Summer Party later this year.
Professor Dame Sarah Gilbert, Saïd Professor of Vaccinology and Principal Investigator at the Pandemic Sciences Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine said: ‘Making a vaccine to protect people in a pandemic needs a huge team of expert, interdisciplinary researchers – including chemists, biologists, and medical scientists – to work together.
‘This Honorary Fellowship from the Royal Society of Chemistry is recognition for the team of scientists in Oxford – and our partners globally – who worked tirelessly during the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure we made a vaccine for the world.’
The Royal Society of Chemistry is a learned society and professional body for chemical scientists. Its vision is a world in which the chemical sciences fulfil their potential as a force for good.
Honorary Fellowship is the highest honour the Society awards. It is granted to those whose distinguished research careers have made an extraordinary impact on scientific advancement, or whose work has been of significant benefit to the application of chemical science.
Dr Helen Pain, Royal Society of Chemistry Chief Executive, commented: ‘It is a privilege to welcome Professor Dame Sarah Gilbert to our list of Honorary Fellows. Her work on vaccines over her career has saved countless lives and kept families together all over the world. The world owes her a debt of gratitude for developing one of the leading vaccines that tackled COVID-19, and it is incredible how many diseases she is tackling through the development of new treatments.
‘Professor Gilbert has had a transformative impact on the chemical sciences – and our society as a whole – and I would like to extend my sincere congratulations to her as we present her with this Honorary Fellowship.’