Recognition in New Year’s Honours for Professor Brian Ferguson

Posted on 30 December 2025

Professor Brian Ferguson from the Department of Health Sciences has been honoured with an MBE for services to public health research and his work with the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)

Professor Brian Ferguson MBE

Professor Ferguson has worked across academia, the NHS and Civil Service in a 40 year career in the health field.

In 2020 Professor Ferguson was appointed as the new NIHR Public Health Research Programme Director and undertook this role until July 2025.

He is currently Public Health Strategic Advisor to NIHR, whose mission is to improve the health and wealth of the nation through research.

Professor Ferguson was previously Deputy Director in the Centre for Health Economics at the University of York, the founding Professor of Health Economics in the University of Leeds, and since 2013 has also been Chief Economist and Deputy Director of Strategy at Public Health England.

Professor Ferguson is one of three academics from the University of York who have been recognised in the King’s New Year honours.

Professor Avtar Matharu, a leading researcher in the Department of Chemistry, has been awarded an MBE for Services to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, Interfaith and Community Cohesion. And Dee Dyas, Emeritus Professor of the History of Christianity in the Department of History, has been awarded an OBE for services to theology and heritage.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Charlie Jeffery paid tribute to all three recipients.

He said: “These honours reflect the extraordinary expertise and compassion at York, with our academics really making a difference to people’s lives and the world around us.

“Avtar is a tireless bridge-builder across faiths, while Dee’s world-leading research broadens our understanding of the modern resurgence of UK pilgrimage. Brian’s 40-year legacy has helped shape public health policy. It is a privilege to call them colleagues, and as a community we celebrate their well-deserved success.”

Professor Ferguson said: “I’m delighted to receive this honour and feel that the University of York has played a huge part in my career. The university will always be my academic home and an institution of which I’ve always been proud to be part.”