Professor Hywel Williams has been awarded an Order of the British Empire (OBE). He has received the award for services to the national Covid-19 research response and his lifelong research into skin diseases.
Professor Williams was a founding member of the Cochrane Skin group in 1997 and was the Co-ordinating Editor for 21 years. He is a Professor of Dermato-Epidemiology and Co-Director of the Centre of Evidence-Based Dermatology in the School of Medicine at the University of Nottingham, where Cochrane Skin is based.
In his role as Director of the NIHR Health Technology Assessment Programme Director and more recently as NIHR Scientific and Coordinating Centre Programmes Contracts Advisor, Professor Williams worked tirelessly to galvanise a joined-up research response to the pandemic. He was, and still is, a key advisor to a number of funding and oversight groups set up to help manage the Covid-19 research response, and to ensure that effective treatments reach NHS patients in record time.
Within dermatology, Professor Williams contributed to national guidance on shielding for patients taking immunosuppressive medications at the request of the Chief Medical Officer. He co-ordinated efforts to ensure consistent advice to people with eczema on how to handwash during the pandemic; producing a training video which has been used worldwide.
Karla Soares-Weiser, Editor in Chief of the Cochrane Library said, “The impact of Hywel’s work in the field is massive. He is one of the most cited dermatologists in the world. His impact at Cochrane has been just as important. He established the Cochrane Skin group and worked tirelessly to champion patient and public involvement in research and the evidence-based approach for treatment for people with skin problems.”
Dr Bob Boyle and Professor Robert Dellavalle, Joint Co-Ordinating Editors, said, “Cochrane Skin extends their warmest congratulations to Hywel on this well-deserved recognition. Words cannot describe the importance of the contributions Dr. Williams has made to the field of dermatology.”
- Visit the Cochrane Skin website
- Learn more about the history of Cochrane Skin
- Listen to a podcast with Professor Williams discusses his involvement in Cochrane and his belief in the importance of patient involvement in research.
- Check out the COVID-19 Resources for Dermatology
