Sir Graham Le Gros awarded knighthood in New Year Honours

Sir Graham served as director of the Malaghan Institute of Medical Research from 1994 until the end of 2024, and continues his service to the institute as deputy chair. Over three decades of leadership, he transformed the independent charity into a world-class centre for immunology and biomedical innovation, undertaking cutting-edge research across cancer, infectious disease, autoimmune, allergy and inflammatory conditions, with an increasing focus on translating discoveries from the laboratory to the clinic.

Chair of the Malaghan Institute, Sir Paul Collins, says the honour is richly deserved and reflects a lifetime of service that has led to improved health outcomes, strengthened national capability and inspired public confidence in science.

Since being appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2014 for services to science and medicine, Sir Graham has delivered a further decade of nationally significant achievement. During this period, the Malaghan more than doubled in size to more than 130 staff, and grew its operating budget from $7.5 million in 2014 to more than $30 million in 2024, attracting investment from government, corporate partners and philanthropic supporters.

“His ability to bring together the right people, secure significant funding and maintain long-term partnerships in New Zealand and internationally has enabled the Malaghan to lead nationally significant research programmes with global relevance,” says Sir Paul.

Over the past decade, Sir Graham has made a deliberate and impactful shift in focus – from an internationally-oriented research career into allergic disease to one deeply invested in the public good of New Zealand. While his earlier work built a strong academic and global research reputation, his recent contributions have leveraged these achievements and reflect a determined effort to improve national capability, self-sufficiency and public health.

A defining achievement in this period has been Sir Graham’s leadership in bringing CAR T-cell therapy to New Zealand, leading to the country’s first CAR T-cell clinical trial and laying the groundwork to make this advanced cancer therapy standard of care. He also played a key role during the COVID-19 pandemic, translating complex science for government and the public, and leading the establishment of Vaccine Alliance Aotearoa New Zealand, helping lay the foundations for lasting national vaccine and RNA development capability.

“His contribution to global biomedical innovation has increasingly centred on amplifying New Zealand’s role as a serious contributor, underpinned by a fierce determination and belief that New Zealand has the capability and must be ambitious about delivering life-saving biomedical therapies at home,” says Sir Paul.

Sir Graham is held in high regard by his peers in New Zealand and internationally, and is widely known as a principled leader, generous mentor, brilliant scientist and strategic thinker who consistently places national benefit at the heart of his work. He has partnered across disciplines and sectors, negotiated complex commercial relationships and demonstrated an extraordinary ability to adapt and evolve the institute’s work in response to national need.

“From my perspective, it is quite remarkable that Sir Graham has spearheaded the evolution of the Malaghan Institute into New Zealand's leading independent medical research institute and an organisation that is internationally recognised and respected. I say remarkable in the sense that the skills required are massive and he has exhibited them all.”