©
David Vintiner
The annual Royal Society Awards recognise exceptional research achievements through a series of prestigious medals and prizes. Of the 25 awards for 2023-24, announced today, Professor Dame Molly Stevens is one of five Oxford University researchers honoured for their outstanding contributions to science and medicine.
Professor Dame Molly Stevens has been awarded the Armourers and Brasiers Company Prize. This recognises her achievements in pioneering nanomaterials for ultrasensitive disease diagnostics and advanced therapeutic delivery for the benefit of individuals and society at a global level.
Professor Stevens’s research is centred on understanding and designing the interface between materials and biological systems to develop materials-based solutions for regenerative medicine, diagnostics, and therapeutics. This includes designing biomaterials that elicit tissue regeneration, creating controlled drug delivery systems to target disease sites and reduce systemic side effects, and developing ultrasensitive biosensors for early disease detection. A key aim is to develop flexible, effective, and more accessible tools that do not rely heavily on complex equipment or trained personnel, making them usable even in the most resource-limited settings.
A major driver for her work is to design innovative solutions that will be accessible to broad populations, by working with people in the field to maximise impact. For instance, Professor Stevens has worked with collaborators in South Africa on early diagnosis of tuberculosis and HIV, and in collaboration with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to develop long-acting formulations for contraceptives and vaccines.
Sir Adrian Smith, President of the Royal Society said, ‘The scope of scientific knowledge and experience in this year’s line-up is amazing. These outstanding researchers, individuals, and teams have contributed to our collective scientific endeavour and helped further our understanding of the world around us. I am proud to celebrate outstanding science and offer my congratulations to all the 2024 recipients of the Royal Society’s Medals and Awards.’
Professor Stevens said, ‘I am delighted to receive this award which recognises the dedication and creativity of my amazing team of researchers and students. Our wonderful interdisciplinary team is very motivated to keep working towards transformative healthcare technologies that are accessible to all.’
The other University of Oxford winners are Professor Tony Bell from Oxford University’s Physics Department, Professor Sir Marc Feldmann from the Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, Professor Véronique Gouverneur, from Oxford University’s Department of Chemistry and Professor Philip Maini, from the Mathematical Institute.
Further information about the Awards can be found on the Royal Society website.