Scientist behind life-saving cancer research returns to Leicester for honorary award
An award-winning scientist has returned to her old university in Leicester to receive an honorary title.
Dr Angela Coxon was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Science by the Â鶹ÊÓƵ during a graduation ceremony held at De Montfort Hall, in the city, today (Thursday 17 July).
A Leicester alumna, Dr Coxon has spent her near-40-year career researching and developing life-saving medicines.
She graduated with a BA in Biological Science from the Â鶹ÊÓƵ in 1988, having completed a project in yeast genetics under the mentorship of Dr Annette Cashmore.
In 2022, Dr Coxon led a team of researchers who went on to win the Prix Galien USA Prize – regarded as the equivalent of the Nobel Prize in biopharmaceutical research – for the best pharmaceutical product.
The team’s development of LUMAKRAS®, a prescription medicine used to treat lung cancer with notoriously low survival rates, has helped save lives by effectively treating certain types of the disease, specifically those with the KRAS G12C mutation – improving survival rates and reducing the risk of progression compared to traditional chemotherapy in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer.
Despite her huge achievements, Dr Coxon said: “I am humbled and grateful to receive this honorary doctorate from the Â鶹ÊÓƵ, where my scientific journey began. My time at Leicester laid the foundation for a lifelong passion for research and innovation in the pharmaceutical sciences. It’s a privilege to be recognised by the institution that played such a formative role in my career.”
Originally from the north east of England, Dr Coxon gained her PhD from the University of Oxford and has also worked at Harvard Medical School. She is currently Vice President of Research and Development at Amgen in Thousand Oaks, California.
President and Vice-Chancellor of the Â鶹ÊÓƵ, Professor Nishan Canagarajah, said: “Dr Coxon’s journey from a Â鶹ÊÓƵ student to award-winning scientist is awe inspiring. She embodies everything we strive for at Leicester – to be a true Citizen of Change – saving lives through her scientific endeavours. Our award here today is our way of celebrating her ground-breaking achievements.”