Noreen's commitment to science is honoured

A leading researcher at the University of Edinburgh has been honoured for her lifelong commitment to science.

Emeritus Professor Noreen Murray was awarded an honorary Doctor of Science degree by the university and a Royal Medal by the Royal Society of Edinburgh.

Professor Murray, emeritus professor of molecular genetics, was honoured by the university for her leadership in the field and for her service to the institution.

The Royal Society of Edinburgh Gold Medal was presented by Lord Wilson of Tillyorn.

The presentation followed an address by Professor Jean Beggs, professor of molecular biology and vice-president of the Royal Society of Edinburgh.

The award was made in recognition of the impact of Professor Murray's work in molecular biology.

The benefits of her research have gone beyond academia into the biotechnology, healthcare and agricultural industries.

Educated at King's College London and the University of Birmingham, the distinguished molecular geneticist has been based in Edinburgh since 1968. She became a professor at the university in 1988.

As well as her intensive research achievements, Prof Murray is acknowledged to have taken on substantial teaching commitments and to have extended her support to students during her career.

Vice-principal of the university, Professor Nigel Brown, said: "Professor Noreen Murray is a pioneering scientist and a great role model for researchers, and I am delighted that her many achievements have been recognised with these awards."

Last year Prof Murray and her husband Kenneth were presented with the lifetime achievement award at the Nexxus Awards.

Mr Murray founded biotechnology company Biogen in 1978, and his research on the hepatitis B virus led to the development of the first effective genetically engineered vaccine.

By 1984, the world's first synthetic vaccine was ready for use in humans. It proved to be not only effective, but both safer and cheaper than earlier vaccines derived from blood products.

Although Mr Murray left school at the age of 16, when he became a laboratory technician at Boots, he carried on studying part-time and eventually gained a first-class degree in chemistry and then a PhD in microbiology from the University of Birmingham.

He arrived in Edinburgh in 1967 when the university was the only one in the UK to have a department of molecular biology.

Mr Murray, who was among the leaders in developing DNA sequencing, and his wife worked there until their retirement.

Prof Murray is on the advisory panel of Edinburgh vaccine company BigDNA.