In recognition of his contributions in both science and culture, this year Phoenix, along with another 49 peers, was awarded the prestigious Chinese Government Friendship Award, the highest honor given by the Chinese government to foreigners for their contributions to the country.

Phoenix studied biochemistry and obtained his bachelor's degree from the University of Liverpool in 1987, followed by a doctorate.

He continued to study part time and obtained a bachelor's degree from the Open University in mathematics in 1980s.

With more than 250 publications to his credit, Phoenix is a visiting professor at King's College London and Sichuan University, China, as well as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry, the Society of Biology, the Institute of Mathematics and Its Applications, and the Royal Society of Medicine.

His contributions to the field of biochemistry were recognized by the mayor of Shenzhen, who in 2010 invited him to set up and lead the UCLan Biomedical Technology research institute, which focuses on areas of nanoscience and nano-engineering.

Phoenix has long showed great enthusiasm for educational and cultural exchanges between China and the UK.

When serving as the deputy vice-chancellor of the University of Central Lancashire, he played an active role in helping the Confucius Institute conduct its work.

After being appointed as vice-chancellor of London South Bank University, he assumed the position of board chair of the Confucius Institute for Traditional Chinese Medicine and vigorously promoted the work of the institute on all fronts.