2006
Professor Robert Baldwin (deceased)
HonDSc for outstanding achievement to sciences and for his roles as an ambassador for scientific endeavour in Nottingham and the UK.
Professor Robert Baldwin is one of the world’s leading authorities in cancer research. Formerly Professor of Tumour Biology at the University of Nottingham, Professor Baldwin was honoured for his outstanding contribution to science and for his role as an ambassador for scientific endeavour in Nottingham and the UK.
Professor Baldwin undertook pioneering work in cancer immunology during a career spanning over 50 years. With seminal papers in 1955 he explored the development of immunity to cancer. By the 1970s he was a leading a world-renowned team of more than 70 scientists, conducting clinical trails in vaccine and monoclonal antibody therapy.
The work was groundbreaking and award winning. In just one example, the team produced a monoclonal antibody – one of the so-called 'magic bullets' – which was among the first to be used for imaging bone cancers. Research such as this paved the way for many cancer detection tests and novel methods of treatment in use today.
Professor Baldwin’s work cemented Nottingham's reputation as a leading centre for cancer research. His contribution cannot be under-estimated with more than 1,000 published research papers and keynote lectures at all major international cancer conferences.
He holds a lifelong Cancer Research Campaign Gibbs Fellowship – awarded to very few scientists – and was founder editor of Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy.
His legacy lives on within both universities in Nottingham and through the many researchers who worked under his direction and now hold senior appointments worldwide.