The Babraham Institute's former director has been awarded an OBE in the New Year Honours List, for services to biology
Richard Dyer joined the Babraham Institute in 1974 as a neuroendocrinologist, becoming head of department in 1985.
His distinct scientific contributions were on understanding how specialised nerve cells in the brain regulate hormone production and thereby control the female reproductive cycle.
In 1986 he was awarded the annual medal of the UK Society for Endocrinology and 1987 the medal of the Polish Physiological Society.
In 1994 he was appointed director and led the institute through a period of great change.
In 2005, just before his retirement as director, the institute was highly praised for the excellence of its research and scientific training in an independent assessment for the BBSRC, the institute's main sponsoring research council.
Richard Dyer's vision of an integrated campus, with researchers from both the academic and commercial ends of the biotech spectrum working in close proximity, has been realised.
The Babraham Research Campus, with its Bioincubator, is now the UK's most active location for start-up and emerging biotech companies; with another building due to open in late 2007 which already has multiple expressions of interest.
Dyer is now chief executive of the Biosciences Federation, an umbrella organisation representing the UK's biological expertise and providing independent opinion to inform public policy and to promote the biosciences.
He is also vice president of the European Science Foundation and continues as a member of the Babraham Bioscience Technologies board.
John Bicknell, former acting director, said "I am delighted that Richard's contribution to the Babraham Institute and to the conception of the Babraham Research Campus has been recognised in this way.
"Richard was the prime mover in bringing the institute to its current, highly respected status as a vibrant international research centre for discovery biology in the 21st century with its promise and potential for applications in biomedicine.
"This award is a richly deserved tribute from which his colleagues at the Institute will take great pleasure".
