Three cheers for Prof Ron Laskey

We are delighted to announce that Prof Ron Laskey, one of our esteemed founders, has recently been conferred the French title of Officier de l’Ordre national du Mérite. This prestigious honour recognises Ron’s outstanding career and his significant contributions to French science. The medal was presented by Hugues de Thé, Professor of Molecular Oncology at the College de France.

Ron, along with John Gurdon, Michael Akam, Martin Evans, Janet Heasman and Chris Wiley, established the Institute in 1991. Their visionary leadership laid the foundation for a thriving institution and created a dynamic and interdisciplinary environment that has become the hallmark of the Institute.

“I feel deeply grateful to be honoured by France and to receive the medal from Professor Hugues de Thé, a molecular oncologist who I respect greatly. On a more personal level, my wife and I were delighted that, by chance, the ceremony was held only 300 metres from the flat where Ann lived when we first met in 1969.”