Surrey toxicologist awarded OBE in King's Birthday Honours

Professor Shirley Price, Emerita Professor of Toxicology at the University of Surrey, has been awarded an OBE (Order of the British Empire) in the 2025 King's Birthday Honours for services to industry and consumer protection.

Professor Price is a renowned toxicologist who has served on several government committees to investigate the safety of medicines, non-medical products, and agrochemical consumer products. Such committees include the Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment (COT), the Scientific Advisory Group on Chemical Safety of Non-Food and Non-Medicinal Consumer Products (SAG-CS), and Expert Advisory and Working Groups for the Commission on Human Medicines.

Shirley's success and impact throughout her teaching and research career is a testament to her tireless work ethic and her dedication to public service. We are all extremely proud of Shirley and want to extend her the warmest congratulations for this achievement. Professor Tim Dunne, Interim President and Vice-Chancellor

As part of an academic career that spans more than 40 years at Surrey, Professor Price has been instrumental in providing education and training programmes in toxicology to industry, regulators and academics. Alongside her Emerita Professorship at Surrey, she is also a Visiting Professor of Toxicology at the University of Hertfordshire and Honorary Professor at the UK Health Security Agency.

At Surrey, Shirley was Associate Director, Education, for the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences. More recently, Professor Price was part of the team that validated the curriculum for Surrey’s new School of Medicine.

I am truly honoured to receive this award for my work in industry and consumer protection. Toxicology has been a passion of mine ever since I studied for my master's at the University of Surrey, and it’s been a real privilege to teach and support both undergraduate and postgraduate students in the subject over the years.

More recently, I’ve had the chance to use that knowledge to advise on a wide range of consumer products, including medicines, vaccines, cosmetics, food additives, contaminants and air pollutants.

This award means a great deal, but it’s also a reflection of the many colleagues I’ve had the good fortune to work with – at the University, across the wider toxicology community and through the British Toxicology Society. I’m especially grateful to my husband and family for their support and encouragement through it all." Professor Price commented

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