Prof Ryan Donnelly awarded prestigious RPS Harrison Memorial Medal 2024

RPS HMM winner Professor Donnelly's work has secured £30M+ funding through his pioneering work in developing advanced polymeric drug delivery systems

Professor Ryan Donnelly, esteemed for his groundbreaking contributions to pharmaceutical science, has been awarded the prestigious Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) Harrison Memorial Medal for 2024.

This distinguished accolade, presented in honour of the renowned pharmaceutical chemist Col EF Harrison, serves as a testament to Professor Donnelly's exceptional achievements.

Currently holding the position of Chair in Pharmaceutical Technology at Queen’s University Belfast’s School of Pharmacy and Director of Research, Professor Donnelly has garnered acclaim for his pioneering work in developing advanced polymeric drug delivery systems.

Specialising in transdermal and intradermal drug delivery methodologies, his research aims at optimising patient outcomes through innovative pharmaceutical technologies.

Collaborating closely with leading pharmaceutical companies, Professor Donnelly has led the charge in creating novel microneedle technologies.

His efforts have attracted substantial funding, exceeding £30 million, and have resulted in an extensive publication portfolio comprising over 1000 peer-reviewed works.

Moreover, Professor Donnelly's leadership has fostered a diverse and dynamic research team comprising individuals from 15 different countries.

His expertise has been recognised on a global scale, evidenced by his frequent invitations to speak at prestigious national and international conferences.

In addition, Professor Donnelly has been the recipient of the International Association for Pharmaceutical Technology Research Award for Outstanding Achievements in the Pharmaceutical Sciences and the Kydonieus Foundation Transdermal Delivery Award, both bestowed upon him in 2024.

Expressing his gratitude for the recognition, Professor Donnelly remarked, "I am delighted to receive this great honor from RPS."

"As a pharmacist, my work has always focused on harnessing the pharmaceutical sciences to develop drug and vaccine delivery systems that can enhance therapeutic outcomes for patients."

Commending Professor Donnelly's contributions, Professor Parastou Donyai, RPS Chief Scientist, emphasised his unparalleled leadership in the field of drug delivery research and said:

"It is a real pleasure to announce Professor Ryan Donnelly as the 2024 RPS Harrison Medal Winner."

"His novel inventions have potential for genuine impact, and his publication record, substantial research funding, and investment in developing others attest to his authority and distinction."

"Professor Donelly is a world leader in the field of drug delivery" and "is a credit to pharmaceutical science and the whole of the profession of pharmacy," he further added.