Queen's Professor awarded the Royal Pharmaceutical Society 2025 Hanbury Medal
Professor David Jones, Professor of Pharmaceutical and Biomaterial Engineering from the School of Pharmacy at Queen’s University, has been awarded the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) 2025 Hanbury Medal.
Professor Jones received the medal in recognition of his outstanding scientific contributions to pharmaceutical sciences, education and innovation.
The only pharmacist to have been elected to three national academies – the Royal Academy of Engineering, the Academy of Medical Sciences and the Royal Irish Academy – Professor Jones has over his career developed new ways to deliver medicines more effectively and safely, including drug-releasing implants, eye treatments for sight-threatening diseases and coatings for medical devices that help prevent infections.
His work has resulted in over 70 commercialised products and devices that have improved the lives of patients around the world. He also co-founded two successful companies, Xiomateria and Re-Vana Therapeutics, which are bringing these products to market.
A passionate educator and mentor, Professor Jones has also redesigned pharmacy education programmes, supervised nearly 50 PhD students and authored widely used textbooks in pharmaceutics and pharmaceutical statistics.
In response to receiving the Hanbury Medal, Professor Jones said: "I am both stunned and delighted to have been awarded the 2025 Hanbury Memorial Award."Previous winners of this award have been both giants in and leaders of pharmacy and pharmaceutical research, and they have inspired me at various stages in my career. For me to join this list of winners is truly humbling."
The gold Hanbury Medal – in honour of British botanist and pharmacologist Daniel Hanbury – is awarded every five years by the RPS to recognise an individual who has had a distinguished career in the pharmaceutical sciences.
Professor Jones added: "It is a great honour to have been recognised for my contributions to pharmaceutical research and education, as well as to my profession, pharmacy, to which I owe so much."I would like to sincerely thank all my work colleagues and students (both past and present), as well as my family, who have been with me throughout this journey."
Paul Bennett, RPS Chief Executive Officer, said that the Hanbury Medal remains an important award of the RPS in recognition of excellence in pharmaceutical science.
He said: "Recipients of this prestigious award have been recognised for their pioneering work and reflects the importance that the society places on pharmaceutical science and research, disciplines which underpin the profession of pharmacy and without which advancements in medicines and patient care would not occur.
"Many congratulations to Professor Jones who joins an eminent list of past recipients going back to 1881 and whose passion for research and innovation and his pioneering work on Autoimmune Liver Disease will be an inspiration to so many pharmaceutical scientists and pharmacists."
Amira Guirguis, Chair of the RPS Science and Research Committee and Hanbury Medal panellist, extended gratitude to the Academy of Pharmaceutical Sciences for nominating Professor Jones, and said his work continues to inspire innovation, elevate the importance of science and research, and drive excellence among pharmaceutical scientists and pharmacists.
She commented: "It was a privilege to judge the awarding of the 2025 Hanbury Medal, and Professor David Jones is a worthy winner. His pioneering research in pharmaceutical engineering and biomaterials has had a profound impact on both patient care and scientific advancement.
"From developing innovative drug delivery systems to mentoring the next generation of pharmaceutical scientists, Professor Jones exemplifies the values of excellence and innovation that the Hanbury Medal celebrates."
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Media inquiries to Sian Devlin at s.devlin@qub.ac.uk