Kellogg Fellow, Professor Nick Day, recognised in the King’s New Year Honours

Kellogg College is delighted to celebrate the recognition of Professor Nick Day, Fellow of Kellogg College, in the King’s New Year Honours 2026.

Professor Day has been appointed a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) for services to Global Health. The CMG is one of the UK’s most distinguished honours, traditionally awarded for exceptional service in international affairs and overseas work, and is a significant recognition of sustained global impact, leadership, and public service. In the field of global health, it reflects contributions that have materially improved health outcomes beyond the UK, particularly in low-resource settings.

Professor Day was one of five members of the University of Oxford recognised in the King’s New Year Honours. Commenting on this year’s announcements, Professor Irene Tracey, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford and an Honorary Fellow of Kellogg College, said:
“My warmest congratulations to all Oxford colleagues recognised in the New Year Honours. Their achievements embody the finest traditions of our University: rigorous scholarship, world-leading research, and a deep commitment to excellence and public service.”

Professor Day is Professor of Tropical Medicine in the Nuffield Department of Medicine at the University of Oxford. He joined the Oxford University Clinical Research Unit in Vietnam in 1991, where his early work focused on the treatment of severe malaria, typhoid, tetanus, and diphtheria. Since 2003, he has been Director of the Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit (MORU), a leading international research collaboration conducting infectious disease research with a clear mission to improve health and well-being in low-resource communities.

Under his leadership, MORU has played a critical role in addressing some of the world’s most pressing infectious disease challenges, combining scientific excellence with long-term partnerships, capacity building, and a strong commitment to ethical, patient-centred research. His work exemplifies the values of global health research that is collaborative, context-sensitive, and focused on real-world impact.

Reflecting on the honour, Professor Day said:
“Global health is rarely straightforward. Progress is hard won, setbacks are common, and the health inequities involved can be sobering. I have been extraordinarily fortunate to spend my career at MORU and before that at OUCRU, working alongside colleagues whose skill, courage, and generosity make meaningful work possible in the most difficult circumstances.

“Anything I have achieved has depended on that collective effort, and I am deeply grateful to everyone across the MORU network, and to our partners, research participants, and my family for their trust and support.”

Kellogg College congratulates Professor Day on this well-deserved honour, which highlights not only his personal achievements but also the global significance of collaborative research dedicated to improving health for some of the world’s most vulnerable communities.