Rachel Tanner, Postdoctoral Research Scientist and Lecturer at the Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, has been awarded the 2019 'Woman of the Future award for Science'
Rachel was selected for the award on the basis of her significant contribution to the field of tuberculosis vaccine development. Tuberculosis is currently the world’s most deadly infectious disease. The WHO estimates that 1.8 billion people, close to one quarter of the world's population, are infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacteria that causes TB. Last year, 10 million fell ill from TB and 1.6 million people died.
She was also highly commended for her work to ensure greater parity among students at top universities and within STEM fields. Rachel has co-authored 35 journal papers and received several competitive grants.
The Women of the Future Awards, founded by Pinky Lilani CBE DL in 2006, provide a platform for the pipeline of female talent in the UK. The awards recognise the inspirational stars of tomorrow across diverse sectors.
HRH The Countess of Wessex is the Awards' Global Ambassador, Cherie Blair acts as patron of the WOF Awards and Baroness Gabrielle Bertin is Chair of the Awards judging panel.