Scientist given honour by Queen

A scientist from the University of Dundee has been recognised by the Queen in the New Year honours list.

Professor Mike Ferguson, the dean of research at the College of Life Sciences, has been made a CBE for services to science.

The expert, who has worked at the university for almost 20 years, develops drugs for tropical diseases such as African Sleeping Sickness.

He thanked his colleagues for helping him to achieve the award.

He said during his time at the university, the number of research staff had increased from 150 to 700.

Professor Ferguson said the support of the city of Dundee for life sciences and the "outstanding and collegiate research environment" encapsulated what was special about being a scientist at the university.

"I am particularly excited about our new Drug Discovery Unit, opened by Gordon Brown in January 2006," he added.

"Our aim is to create new drugs for neglected diseases, in particular human African sleeping sickness that affects the very poorest in sub-Saharan Africa, and also to translate basic research into therapeutics in many other areas, including cancer and allergy."