Geneticists recognised in New Year Honours

Pioneering geneticists Professor Zosia Miedzybrodzka and Professor Meena Upadhyaya were both recognised in the King's 2026 New Year Honours list.

Professor Miedzybrodzka was awarded an OBE for services to medical genetics and research. She is the service clinical director of genetics at NHS Grampian, professor of medical genetics at the University of Aberdeen, and the NHS clinical lead for Huntington's disease in the North of Scotland. Professor Miedzybrodzka, in collaboration with the University of Edinburgh 'VIKING Genes' team, identified a shared BRCA1 gene variant in one percent of study volunteers with Orkney ancestry (see BioNews 1183). The gene variant increases the chance of developing breast and ovarian cancers.

'I'm so blown away and really moved to get this recognition for all the years I've been trying to just do my best for people with genetic conditions,' said Professor Miedzybrodzka. 'It's a long-established clinic, and I've been very pleased to lead it all these years... None of this would be possible without my team, who all pull together, and all really care about patients.'

Since completing the BRCA1 study, she has begun a genetic testing programme on the Orcadian Isle of Westray. Professor Miedzybrodzka has continued to lead research on the prevalence of rare and heritable conditions such as Huntington's, and BRCA2 gene variants (see BioNews 1242), in remote areas of Northern Scotland alongside teaching and clinical practice. In recognition, in 2023 Professor Miedzybrodzka received the 'Science Pioneer' award by the Woman and Home magazine as one of 'Britain's Most Amazing Women'.

For her services to community cohesion in Wales and medical genetics, Professor Upadhyaya, emerita professor at Cardiff University, was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE), having previously received an OBE in 2016.

Professor Upadhyaya's research led to significant diagnostic and treatment changes for people with Type 1 neurofibromatosis and muscular dystrophy. She was an important contributor to the discovery of the NF1 gene and its associated mutations, which can cause tumours to develop along nerves, as well as contributing to the understanding of how benign tumours progress into malignancy.

In 2011, Professor Upadhyaya founded the Ethnic Minority Welsh Women Achievement Association, and since her retirement from Cardiff University in 2014 she has continued her community cohesion work. From 2020 to 2024 Professor Upadhyaya served as a non-executive director on the Welsh government board and worked on the Anti-Racist Wales Action Plan.

'She is a visible champion of racial equality, community cohesion and in particular for black, Asian and ethnic minority women in Wales', the DBE award details note. 'In 2023 she initiated an international collaboration that produced essays on Women in Neurofibromatosis (NF1), emphasising diversity and inclusion in biomedical research.'