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University of St Andrews
Head of Department, Professor Sir Rory Collins, has received an honorary Doctor of Medicine (MD) from the University of St Andrews in recognition of his outstanding contributions in epidemiology and clinical research.
Sir Rory received his honorary doctorate at a ceremony in St Andrews which marked the achievements of hundreds of students in the School of Geography and Sustainable Development, School of Medicine, and the Business School.
Professor Deborah Williamson, Dean of Medicine at the University of St Andrews, said ‘Sir Rory is one of the most influential figures in modern epidemiology and clinical research. His work has fundamentally shaped our understanding of cardiovascular disease, risk reduction, and the application of evidence-based medicine at scale. Over the past four decades, his research has consistently delivered insights that have improved outcomes for patients across the world.
‘During the 1980s and early 1990s, Sir Rory coordinated landmark ‘mega-trials’ involving more than 130,000 patients, which demonstrated that clot-dissolving and clot-preventing therapies could more than halve mortality from heart attacks. These findings transformed emergency cardiac care worldwide and paved the way for the targeted use of non-pharmaceutical methods to open coronary arteries.
‘Sir Rory has continued to show the profound value of rigorous, large-scale trials. His contributions to the evidence base for the use of statins and blood pressure lowering therapies have saved countless lives globally.’
Professor Williamson also recognised Sir Rory’s contribution as Chief Executive Officer and Principal Investigator of UK Biobank, and his commitment to scientific integrity saying ‘Under his leadership, UK Biobank has become one of the most important open-access biomedical research resources in the world. The successful recruitment of more than 500,000 participants, combined with ongoing linkage to health records and biological samples, has created an unparalleled platform for discovery. It is now used by over 30,000 researchers globally and underpins thousands of high-impact publications.
‘In an era increasingly challenged by misinformation, his work stands as a model of transparency, rigour and public value. Now more than ever, we need leaders who uphold the principles of evidence-based medicine – those who act as a guiding north star for research that serves patients and society.’
Professor Collins was knighted in 2011, elected Fellow of the Royal Society in 2015, and named among TIME magazine’s 100 most influential people in health in 2024. He continues to influence global research through his commitment to collaboration, transparency and excellence.
In his speech to students, Sir Rory, said ‘You've worked really hard the last three or four years through very difficult times and I really congratulate you and commend you on your degrees. I would also like to recognise your families whose support ‒ moral, emotional and probably financial ‒ has allowed you to get to the point that you have, and I know very much how family support really makes a difference.’
Nine distinguished individuals were honoured for their contributions to sport, politics, science, medicine and the arts during ceremonies at the University of St Andrews this week. Sir Rory received his doctorate alongside the BBC’s Security correspondent Frank Gardner OBE who was given a Doctor of Laws (LLD).