Professor Farooqi was at the University of Wolverhampton on Thursday 19 September 2019, being awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Science in recognition of her contributions to biomedical science and her longstanding connection with the Midlands.

Sadaf Farooqi has been awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Science in recognition of her major contribution to the understanding of the genetics of obesity (a major health problem in the West Midlands and the UK) and the neurophysiology of appetite control.

Sadaf is a Wellcome Principal Research Fellow, Professor of Metabolism and Medicine at the University of Cambridge and internationally recognised clinician scientist who has made seminal contributions to understanding the genetic and physiological mechanisms that underlie severe obesity and its complications.

Her work has altered the understanding of human body weight regulation. Alongside colleagues, she discovered the first genetic disorders that cause severe childhood obesity and established that the principal driver of obesity in these conditions was a failure of the central control of appetite. Her work is often cited as an exemplar of how the translation of research into the basic mechanisms of disease can lead to patient benefit.

She said: "Having lived and studied in the Midlands, I am particularly delighted to receive an Honorary Degree from the University of Wolverhampton."

Honorary awards are presented by the University of Wolverhampton to people who have made a significant contribution to their field of expertise.

You can watch a video of Professor Farooqi speaking about her training and her advice to new graduates.

Please see the University of Wolverhampton news site for more details about the day.