Wolfson alumnus appointed OBE

We were delighted to hear that Wolfson alumnus, Professor Richard Oreffo (GS 1983-87) was recognised in the 2025 King’s New Year Honours list and appointed as an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE).

Richard received this fantastic appointment in recognition of his services to Education Equality and Musculoskeletal Science. In 2020, Richard founded The Cowrie Scholarship Foundation, a partnership with universities, businesses and donors to enable over 100 talented, financially disadvantaged Black British students to attend UK universities.

Of his work in this space, Richard said, “I believe passionately [that] finance should not be a barrier to education or opportunity and, critically, the need to ensure talented disadvantaged Black British students can attend our universities. Access to university should not be limited by race or social class and all should have access to an outstanding academic experience, but this is still not the case. Through The Cowrie Scholarship Foundation, we seek to transform lives through education and make a difference in their lives, our lives and the world”.

Congratulations to Professor Oreffo, from all at Wolfson!

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Richard is Founder/CSO of Renovos Biologics Limited, a company pioneering the use of synthetic nanoclay gels in regenerative orthopaedic applications. He is Adjunct Professor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong and China Medical University, Taiwan and Professor Emeritus of Musculoskeletal Science at the University of Southampton.

Awarded a Doctor of Science by the University of Oxford in bone regenerative medicine, Richard is a fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences as well as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology and a Fellow of International Orthopaedic Research. He holds a number of visiting professorships and Advisory Board positions on EU/SME and Pharma and is the recipient of a number of national and international awards. His research led to the first 3D titanium bone stem impaction graft operation in the UK. Richard co-founded the Centre for Human Development, Stem Cells & Regeneration at the University of Southampton and served as inaugural Director to September 2021.