A director of a national facility in Didcot for mouse genetics and the use of mouse models for the preclinical study of human disease has been awarded an MBE.

Dr Sara Wells has become a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the King’s Birthday Honours list for services to medical research.

Since joining MRC Harwell in 2002, she has worked across biomedical fields, advancing best practices in animal research and enabling great science through the provision of the highest standards of services for researchers.

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She joined as Head of Transgenics and Mutagenesis where she helped shape the Mary Lyon Centre (MLC) where she became Scientific Manager in 2004, the opening year, Head of Operations in 2009 and Director in 2013.

During her time at the MLC, she has become a recognised reference point in the field of preclinical mouse genetics including in policy and legislation.

Dr Wells said: “I was really surprised and thrilled to be given this award.

“I work with amazing teams, working hard to give the best support for research science and this is in recognition of all of their efforts”

She grew up in Margate, Kent, where she attended a local grammar school before obtaining a first-class BSc in Genetics from the University of Sheffield.

She went on to do a PhD at the MRC National Institute for Medical Research, Mill Hill, working on the ‘Expression of Neuroendocrine Genes in Transgenic Rats’.

Dr Wells is also the director of the MRC Centre for Macaques at Porton Down and holds a joint appointment at the Francis Crick Institute as chief biological resources facility officer.

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A statement from the MLC said: “Her commitment to the best use of animals in research and welfare has been a constant theme of any activity she has been involved with.

"She has travelled this remarkable professional trajectory whilst remaining entirely truthful to her roots of Margate gal, making her a most atypical presence in high leadership meetings.

“Along the way, she has been an incredibly supportive colleague to many: a trusted partner to Directors, a caring mentor to countless of her juniors, spotting talent, always encouraging and courageously honest in her guidance, incredibly supportive to those needing her, whether at the peak of their career or a junior position.

“The guiding thread of her career is one of personal commitment, strength and honesty, together with an unwavering enthusiasm for Genetics and genuine curiosity.

“All of this makes her a rare role model and someone to whom we owe recognition and thanks.”

More than 1,000 people from across the UK received honours in Friday's list.

Award organisers said 64 per cent of recipients were people who showed “outstanding work” in their communities either in a voluntary or paid capacity.