Graham Liggins

{{Short description|New Zealand physician (1926–2010)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2022}}

{{Use New Zealand English|date=April 2013}}

{{Infobox scientist

| name = Sir Graham Liggins

| honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|country=NZL|CBE|FRS|FRSNZ|size=100%}}

| image = Graham_Liggins.jpg

| image_size =

| alt =

| caption = portrait by Bruce Jarvis

| birth_name = Graham Collingwood Liggins

| birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1926|06|24}}

| birth_place = Thames, New Zealand

| death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|2010|08|24|1926|06|24}}

| death_place =

| resting_place =

| resting_place_coordinates =

| citizenship =

| fields =

| workplaces =

| alma_mater =

| thesis_title =

| thesis_url =

| thesis_year =

| doctoral_advisor =

| academic_advisors =

| doctoral_students =

| notable_students =

| known_for = Obstetrics

| author_abbrev_bot =

| author_abbrev_zoo =

| influences =

| influenced =

| awards =

| signature =

| signature_alt =

| website =

| footnotes =

| spouse =

| children =

}}

Sir Graham Collingwood "Mont" Liggins {{post-nominals|country=NZL|CBE|FRS|FRSNZ}}{{Cite journal | last1 = Gluckman | first1 = Peter | author-link1 = Peter Gluckman| last2 = Buklijas | first2 = Tatjana | title = Sir Graham Collingwood (Mont) Liggins. 24 June 1926 – 24 August 2010 | doi = 10.1098/rsbm.2012.0039 | journal = Biographical Memoirs of Fellows of the Royal Society | year = 2013 | volume = 59 | pages = 193–214 | doi-access = free }} (24 June 1926{{spaced ndash}}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{{cite news |title=Mont Liggins |url=http://www.economist.com/node/16941245 |newspaper=The Economist |date=2 September 2010 |access-date=3 September 2012}} 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.{{cite thesis |last=Liggins |first=Graham |year=1969 |type=Doctoral thesis |title=The Role of the foetal adrenal glands in the mechanism of initiation of parturition in the ewe |publisher=ResearchSpace@Auckland, University of Auckland |hdl=2292/3252 |url=https://researchspace.auckland.ac.nz/handle/2292/3252}} He carried out research into the reduction of death rates of premature babies at National Women's Hospital in Auckland.{{Cite web |last=Auckland District Health Board |title=History of National Women's Hospital |url=https://nationalwomenshealth.adhb.govt.nz/assets/Womens-health/Documents/Referrals-and-info/History-of-National-Women.pdf |access-date=8 July 2023}}

In the 1983 Queen's Birthday Honours, Liggins was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire for services to medical research.{{London Gazette |issue=49376 |date=11 June 1983 |page=34 |supp=2}} He was made a Knight Bachelor, also for services to medical research, in the 1991 Queen's Birthday Honours.[http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-world/top-new-zealand-scientist-dies-aged-84-20100824-13q0a.html Top New Zealand scientist dies aged 84]{{cite web |url=http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/55085/baby-health-pioneer-sir-graham-liggins-dies |title=Baby health pioneer Sir Graham Liggins dies |date=24 August 2010 |work=Radio New Zealand |access-date=1 October 2011}}{{London Gazette |issue=52564 |date=15 June 1991 |page=29 |supp=2}}

The Liggins Institute was named in his honour.

Liggins died on 24 August 2010, aged 84, following a long illness.[http://www.royalsociety.org.nz/2010/08/25/mont-liggins-frs-frsnz-1926-2010/ Sir Graham Liggins FRS FRSNZ 1926 – 2010] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110521223850/http://www.royalsociety.org.nz/2010/08/25/mont-liggins-frs-frsnz-1926-2010/ |date=21 May 2011 }}