Recipharm names 2018 International Environmental Award winner

Recipharm (Stockholm, Sweden) has announced that its 2018 International Environmental Award will be presented to Dr. Bryan Brooks, Distinguished Professor in Environmental Science and Biomedical Studies at Baylor University in Waco, Texas.

Dr. Brooks' transdisciplinary research includes understanding and managing human activities and environmental stressors across levels of biological organization, particularly in rapidly urbanizing regions. His current research with students focuses on water quality and water reuse, comparative toxicology and pharmacology, sustainable molecular design, environmental public health, and the ecology and toxicology of harmful algal blooms.

His research also contributes to developing science-based approaches to identify, diagnose and manage complex environment and health issues.

Lars Backsell, Chairman of the board of Recipharm, said: “We are delighted to present the 2018 award to Bryan Brooks. His work, which explores the potential effects and risks of contaminants, including pharmaceuticals, on the environment is widely recognised in our industry and beyond. This research will help to build a greater understanding of the impact of certain contaminants on the environment and could potentially provide invaluable guidance on how to reduce any negative effects.”

Dr. Brooks routinely works internationally on water quality, environmental contaminants and sustainability issues and is a frequent presenter at international meetings. In 2012, Dr. Brooks published (with Dr. Duane Huggett) Human Pharmaceuticals in the Environment: Current and Future Perspectives.

His research efforts are supported by the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, as well as local government and businesses.

Dr. Brooks, who also coordinates the strategic Global Horizon Scanning Project, which aims to identify priority research questions that will help to achieve sustainable environmental quality around the world, commente: “More and more people are living in urban areas, which has contamination implications for water and food, and as a result generates some complex health risks. However, it also presents a number of opportunities to reduce waste and exposures, to increase resource recovery, and to design less hazardous chemicals for the protection of public health and the environment."

“Our research examines interfaces among environment and health with a goal of understanding and managing challenges that affect us all, so we’re delighted to be acknowledged for our team’s contributions.”

Dr. Brooks will be awarded the Recipharm International Environment Award at a prize ceremony in Stockholm June 3, 2019. The program and speakers will be announced later this spring. 

Dr. Bryan Brooks