We are delighted to celebrate that Professor Ian Brown has been awarded the Gold Medal at the 93rd World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) General Session, in recognition of his outstanding and far-reaching contribution to the global understanding of influenza.
This prestigious honour reflects a career defined by scientific excellence, international collaboration, and an unwavering commitment to protecting both animal and human health.
A career at the heart of animal health science
Ian spent many years as a cornerstone of the science team here at the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA). Ian headed the WOAH Reference Laboratories at APHA’s Weybridge laboratory for avian influenza, Newcastle disease and swine influenza from 1999 until 2024 which conducts analysis on samples from around the world and provides expert advice to the global community. Ian's stewardship of virology at APHA helped cement and maintain that world-leading status.
He led extensive research, diagnostic and surveillance programmes and oversaw large multidisciplinary scientific teams.
In January 2023, Ian took on the role of Director of Science Operations & Research at APHA, a position he held until March 2024 when he retired from Government. In this capacity, he was responsible for the operational delivery of APHA's science programme across a broad range of disease areas, ensuring the agency remained at the forefront of animal health research and international scientific leadership.
Ian's contribution to the field was recognised in the 2020 New Year's Honours list, when he was awarded an OBE for services to animal health and welfare, a fitting acknowledgement of his dedication long before this latest accolade.
Leading the UK's response to avian influenza
Perhaps most visibly in recent years, Ian led APHA's role as the head of the FluMap consortium - an eight-strong partnership bringing together some of the UK's finest scientific institutions, including the Pirbright Institute, the Royal Veterinary College, the Roslin Institute, Imperial College London and the Universities of Cambridge, Leeds and Nottingham.
Under his leadership, the consortium made significant breakthroughs in understanding avian influenza, including discoveries about the genetic characteristics that allow current H5N1 strains to spread rapidly and infect a wider range of species, the distances over which infectious virus can travel through the air, and early evidence that some seabird species may be developing immunity to the virus. This work directly informed government decision-making and disease control strategies, while also being shared with international partners to support global risk mitigation.
A truly global legacy
The WOAH Gold Medal is one of the most prestigious honours in international animal health, and it is awarded to individuals whose work has made a meaningful difference at a global scale. For Ian, that recognition is richly deserved. His research and scientific leadership have helped shape the international community's understanding of influenza viruses- how they emerge, evolve, spread, and ultimately threaten both animal populations and human health.
Ian said ‘I am deeply honoured to receive this award. I believe it reflects the increasing contribution science has made at an international scale to the ongoing understanding, prevention, management and control of animal influenza in various guises across many years. I have been privileged during my career to work with outstanding scientists and stakeholders at both national and international scales’.
On behalf of everyone at APHA, we extend our warmest congratulations to Professor Ian Brown. This Gold Medal is a reflection of his generosity in sharing knowledge, his commitment to international partnership, and his lifelong dedication to making the world safer from infectious disease.
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