Professor Stephen Cochrane from the School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering has been named winner of the RSC’s Norman Heatley Award for the development of chemical tools for new antibiotic discovery for treating multidrug-resistant infections.

Prof Cochrane, originally from Eglinton but now living in Portadown, will receive £3,000, a medal and a certificate.

Treat multidrug-resistant infections

His team work on the synthesis of chemically labelled polyprenyl-containing biomolecules. They use this to probe the mechanism of action of antibiotics, and to develop high-throughput assays for finding new antibiotics. In an era of increasing antimicrobial resistance, they hope to develop new antibiotics that can treat multidrug-resistant infections.

Prof Cochrane has also been announced as the 2026 CEM Emerging Investigator in Protein and Peptide Science Award, recognising his outstanding contributions to antimicrobial peptide research.

This is a biennial prize for outstanding contributions made by an early career scientist working on protein and peptide science. Prof Cochrane will receive £750 and an award plaque. He has also been selected as the keynote speaker at the 2026 Protein and Peptide Science Group Early-Stage Researcher Meeting.

Prof Cochrane said: “Honestly I was flabbergasted. When the emails first came through, I opened them, saw the "Confidential: Embargoed" text at the top, and just assumed I was being asked to review something! I'm deeply honoured to receive these prizes.

“I am incredibly grateful to my family, as well as my colleagues and collaborators past and present, for all their support, which has made this prize possible.”

Professor Panagiotis Manesiotis, head of the School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering at Queen's, said: "Professor Stephen Cochrane's receipt of two Royal Society of Chemistry awards is a tremendous achievement and a reflection of the outstanding quality and impact of his research.

"His innovative work in antimicrobial discovery addresses one of the most pressing global health challenges of our time, and this recognition is richly deserved."

Dr Helen Pain, CEO of the Royal Society of Chemistry, said: “Chemistry and chemists are everywhere in daily life and in our society, and our prizes reflect that depth and diversity.

“Our prize winners include teams and individuals, professors and apprentices, as well as people from all around the world and in a wide range of roles and sectors. Each person’s contribution plays a vital role in advancing human knowledge and bettering the world that we all live in."