Sir Graham Collingwood "Mont" Liggins CBE FRS FRSNZ[1] (24 June 1926 – 24 August 2010) was a New Zealand medical scientist. A specialist in obstetrical research, he is best known for his pioneering use of hormone injections (antenatal steroids) in 1972[2] to accelerate the lung growth of premature babies. This made it possible for many preterm babies with lung problems to survive.

Sir Graham Liggins
portrait by Bruce Jarvis
Born
Graham Collingwood Liggins

(1926-06-24)24 June 1926
Thames, New Zealand
Died24 August 2010(2010-08-24) (aged 84)
Known forObstetrics

Liggins was educated at the University of Auckland obtaining a PhD in 1969. His doctoral thesis was titled The Role of the foetal adrenal glands in the mechanism of initiation of parturition in the ewe.[3] He carried out research into the reduction of death rates of premature babies at National Women's Hospital in Auckland.[4]

In the 1983 Queen's Birthday Honours, Liggins was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire for services to medical research.[5] He was made a Knight Bachelor, also for services to medical research, in the 1991 Queen's Birthday Honours.[6][7][8]

The Liggins Institute was named in his honour.

Liggins died on 24 August 2010, aged 84, following a long illness.[1][9]

References

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  1. ^ a b Gluckman, Peter; Buklijas, Tatjana (2013). "Sir Graham Collingwood (Mont) Liggins. 24 June 1926 – 24 August 2010". Biographical Memoirs of Fellows of the Royal Society. 59: 193–214. doi:10.1098/rsbm.2012.0039.
  2. ^ "Mont Liggins". The Economist. 2 September 2010. Retrieved 3 September 2012.
  3. ^ Liggins, Graham (1969). The Role of the foetal adrenal glands in the mechanism of initiation of parturition in the ewe (Doctoral thesis). ResearchSpace@Auckland, University of Auckland. hdl:2292/3252.
  4. ^ Auckland District Health Board. "History of National Women's Hospital" (PDF). Retrieved 8 July 2023.
  5. ^ "No. 49376". The London Gazette (2nd supplement). 11 June 1983. p. 34.
  6. ^ Top New Zealand scientist dies aged 84
  7. ^ "Baby health pioneer Sir Graham Liggins dies". Radio New Zealand. 24 August 2010. Retrieved 1 October 2011.
  8. ^ "No. 52564". The London Gazette (2nd supplement). 15 June 1991. p. 29.
  9. ^ Sir Graham Liggins FRS FRSNZ 1926 – 2010 Archived 21 May 2011 at the Wayback Machine