Two Nottingham academics have received royal recognition for their dedication to their work in respiratory medicine and widening participation.

Professor John Britton, an honorary consultant in respiratory medicine and Professor of Epidemiology at the University, received a CBE for his work in respiratory medicine and his research in to tobacco control in the Queen’s New Year Honours.

Professor Britton is head of The UK Centre for Tobacco Control Studies, which is based in Nottingham. The centre forms one of the world’s largest research partnerships dedicated to the prevention of harm from tobacco use.

Along with Professor Ann McNeill, Professor Britton leads the centre. Researchers are investigating the effects of exposure before birth, smoking uptake and addiction in adolescence, methods of stopping smoking, and approaches to reduce the harm caused by tobacco. Professor Britton and the team at the centre also work closely with the Royal College of Physicians and have contributed to a series of influential reports on tobacco control policy.

Professor Britton said: “I feel very honoured to have received this award. It is a reflection on a lot of hard work by a lot of people, of whom I am just one. It recognises the contributions that so many of my colleagues in epidemiology and respiratory medicine have made to preventing and treating respiratory disease over the past few years.”

Dr June McCombie from the University’s School of Chemistry was awarded an MBE for her work on the Institute of Physics’ Widening Participation/Diversity Project and particularly her chairmanship of the Juno Project from 2008-2012.

The Juno Project rewards university physics departments which address the under-representation of women staff. Dr McCombie has also been a member of the Institute of Physics Diversity and Inclusion Committee for over ten years.

Dr McCombie said: “What is particularly gratifying about the award is how happy friends and colleagues are and we have enjoyed some very good celebrations! I’m also delighted that the Institute of Physics Diversity Project and Juno Project have some profile from the award. If they did joint honours it should really go to everyone on those projects.

“Apart from the fact that it is the right thing to do, diversity can only enrich the science in which we are engaged.”

Stephen Regel, an Honorary Associate Professor in the School of Sociology and Social Policy at the University, was awarded an OBE for his services to victims of trauma.  Mr Regel is Principal Psychotherapist/Co-director of the Centre for Trauma, Resilience and Growth at Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust, and a Senior Fellow of the Institute of Mental Health in Nottingham.