Dundee University principal Professor Pete Downes has said he feels his knighthood in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list is an award for the whole institution.
Professor Downes has been knighted for services to higher education and life sciences.
One of the UK’s most distinguished and cited bioscientists, Professor Downes identified the role of the drug Lithium in treating manic depression.
He has led the University of Dundee since 2009 and has developed a new vision for the institution, aiming to transform lives locally and globally and position it as a lynchpin of the social, cultural and economic development of the Dundee city region.
Professor Downes, who is also vice-chancellor of the university, said: “I truly feel this is an award for the whole of the University of Dundee as much as for myself.
“I am immensely proud to have been a member of the University of Dundee community for over 25 years, since I arrived here in 1989, and feel extremely privileged to lead the university.
“I have seen many great things happen here and I am sure we will see many more in future.”
In his work as a biochemist, the academic discovered a biochemical pathway that is the most common source of mutations leading to human cancers.
Alongside Professor Sir Philip Cohen, he pioneered a unique collaboration, the Division of Signal Transduction Therapy, which has seen the university work with the world’s major pharmaceutical companies, resulting in breakthroughs in the treatment of cancer, diabetes and other diseases and attracting over £50 million of investment to Dundee.
Before being appointed principal he was head of the College of Life Sciences.
He has been convener of Universities Scotland since 2012 and has contributed extensively to the work of Universities UK on Scotland’s behalf, serving on its board and executive committee.
He was awarded an OBE in 2004.
Other figures from the education world welcomed news of his knighthood.
Alastair Sim, director of Universities Scotland, said: “Professor Downes has contributed his commitment and leadership to the whole of Scotland’s university sector.
“As convener of Universities Scotland, he has worked hard to maintain the excellence, autonomy and diversity of Scotland’s higher education institutions during an exceptionally intense period of political interest.
“He has also made a distinctive and crucial contribution to creating policy to ensure that universities and businesses are working effectively together to promote our nation’s prosperity.”
Eric Sanderson, chair of the University of Dundee Court, said: “I am absolutely delighted by the award of a knighthood to Pete Downes.
“This recognises both the considerable achievements of the University of Dundee and Pete’s significant personal contribution to the university sector as a whole.”