| Sir Graham Liggins | |
| Birth Name: | Graham Collingwood Liggins |
| Birth Date: | 1926 6, df=yes |
| Birth Place: | Thames, New Zealand |
| Known For: | Obstetrics |
Sir Graham Collingwood "Mont" Liggins [1] (24 June 192624 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.
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. He was made a Knight Bachelor, also for services to medical research, in the 1991 Queen's Birthday Honours.[5] [6]
The Liggins Institute was named in his honour.
Liggins died on 24 August 2010, aged 84, following a long illness.[1] [7]