An expert in cancer genetics who has been made an OBE dedicated the honour to patients and colleagues at the Royal Marsden and elsewhere.

Audrey Ardern-Jones, an associate lecturer at the Royal Marsden, was named in the New Years Honours list for services to cancer genetics nursing care.

Her colleague at the Royal Marsden Jan Balyckyi was also made an OBE for services to cancer care and radiography.

Mrs Ardern-Jones, from Epsom, said: “I am overwhelmed and honoured and thank everyone who enabled me to receive this award.

“The Royal Marsden has a culture of dedication and care where nurses are encouraged to innovate and make a difference.

“I dedicate this award to the patients I have cared for and to my oncology colleagues both at The Royal Marsden and others worldwide.”

Mrs Ardern-Jones joined the Royal Marsden as a research sister in 1993 and set up the UK Genetic Prostate Cancer Study with a colleague Professor Ros Eeles.

The worldwide collaborative research project aims to find genetic changes associated with prostate cancer risk and is the largest study of its kind involving nearly 170 hospitals.

In 1996 Mrs Ardern-Jones became a clinical nurse specialist in cancer genetics and went on to start the genetics service with Professor Eeles at the Royal Marsden in Chelsea.

Mrs Ardern-Jones has also set up patient support groups and education days, served on Department of Health committees and advised on policy.

She continues to teach nurses and professionals in cancer care and to work in research.

Mrs Balyckyi, a radiotherapy services director for the Royal Marsden, is a recognised leader in the development of radiotherapy education.

She has led the way in the innovative use of technology and recently helped to bring the CyberKnife, which allows robotic radiosurgery, to the Royal Marsden in Chelsea.