Fuse expert awarded OBE for services to maternal, child health and inclusion

Fuse Associate, Professor Judith Rankin, has been named in the 2025 King’s Birthday Honours list.

Based at Newcastle University, Professor Rankin is a maternal and child health researcher in the NIHR School for Public Health Research (SPHR) and leads the project Supporting engagement with and access to maternity services, which aims to improve care for women and families from underserved communities.

She has been awarded an OBE for services to Maternal and Child Health and Research Inclusion - recognising her outstanding contribution to reducing inequalities in health outcomes and championing inclusive research practices.

Professor Rankin was also recently named an NIHR Senior Investigator in Public Health and is co-leading a new NIHR Challenge Maternity Disparities Consortium. 

Judith is Professor of Maternal and Child Health in the Population Health Sciences Institute, where her research focuses on improving outcomes for women, babies and families, particularly those from vulnerable groups. From her early work on congenital anomaly surveillance and population-level data to her current leadership in public health research, her work has influenced practice and policy nationally and internationally.

She is also known for her tireless efforts to create a more inclusive research environment, supporting colleagues from a wide range of backgrounds and disciplines, and working with institutions to embed equity in their practices.

A core part of Judith’s work involves close collaboration with parents, families and organisations such as Sands, Children North East, Tiny Lives and the Twins Trust, ensuring that lived experience remains at the heart of research and service design.

Reacting to the honour, Judith said:

"This was a completely unexpected honour, and I feel very privileged to have been nominated. I am particularly pleased that this nomination was not only for my research in maternal and child health but also for my inclusion work. This award recognises the contributions of many colleagues from across a number of organisations both in the UK and in Europe who have provided encouragement and support over the years."

Fuse would like to warmly congratulate Judith on this richly deserved recognition.

Adapted from a Newcastle University press release

Last modified: Thu, 19 Jun 2025 16:04:00 BST