Kingsley Thomas (right), the head of the National Recovery Programme, is all smiles as he is conferred an honorary graduand by Chancellor of the University of Technology, Lord Bill Morris, during the university's annual graduation ceremony, on Saturday. - Peta-Gaye Clachar/Staff Photographer

The former National Housing Trust boss, Kingsley Thomas and Jamaican scientist Dr. Robert Gallo were recognised as honorary graduands for their exceptional contribution to their respective fields by the University of Technology at its graduation ceremony on Saturday.

Some 1,600 students graduated from the institution.

Thomas, who currently heads the National Recovery Programme, has been behind some of the island's most impressive architectural and infrastructural works including Highway 2000 - the island's first tolled highway; the development of Emancipation Park in New Kingston and the Trelawny multi-purpose stadium. Mr. Thomas is also a former managing director of the Development Bank of Jamaica.

Discovery

Dr. Gallo, who has been director of the Institute of Human Virology at the University of Maryland, Baltimore, headed a team of scientists who, in 1980, discovered the human retrovirus (HTLV-1) which causes a particular type of human leukaemia. This is the first and only known human leukaemia virus and one of the few known viruses known to cause cancer in humans. A year later, Dr. Gallo and his team discovered a second human retrovirus (HTLV-2). They also independently discovered HIV, the third known retrovirus and provided the results that HIV causes AIDS. Between 1983 and 1984 they also developed the HIV blood test which, up to now, remains the first level of attack against the disease.

In 1986 they went on to discover the human herpes virus (HHV-6).

Dr. Gallo has been awarded 27 honorary doctorates from universities in the United States, Sweden, Italy, Israel, Peru and several other European countries. He has also won numerous scientific awards for his work, including the U.S. Albert Lasker Prize in 1982.