JULY 7, 2025, NEW YORK - Our congratulations to Ludwig Oxford's Helen Byrne on her receipt of the Naylor Prize and Lectureship in Applied Mathematics from the London Mathematical Society. The award recognizes Byrne's contributions to our understanding of the mechanisms that drive tumor growth, their escape from immune clearance and response to treatment through mathematical, computational and statistical modelling.
In issuing the award, the Society cited, among other things, Byrne's development and application of mathematical and statistical approaches-including topological and spatial analyses-to study the structure and heterogeneity of tumors. Her work, it noted, has furthered our understanding of the complex relationships between tumor architecture and immune or stromal cell infiltration, with important implications for improving treatment strategies and guiding decision-making in the treatment of cancer.
"I am honored to have received the Naylor Prize, which reflects our collective efforts to advance understanding of cancer biology and the tumor microenvironment through mathematical and statistical modelling," said Byrne.
The Naylor Prize is awarded biennially in recognition of the recipient's contributions to applied mathematics or the application of mathematics, and pedagogical talents. Previous notable recipients include Sir Stephen Hawking, Sir Roger Penrose, Sir James Lighthill and Sir Michael Berry.
