About us

The Academy of Medical Sciences improves lives through health research and ensures the UK remains at the forefront of medical science globally.

What we do

We work in the space between research and decision making — bringing together researchers, healthcare leaders, policymakers, industry and patients to help turn discovery into better health for people and communities across the UK and beyond.

As the UK’s national academy for medical sciences and the independent voice of biomedical and health research, we:

support researchers and strengthen careers in medical sciences
shape policy through independent, evidence-based advice
connect academia, the NHS, industry, government, charities and society
drive collaboration to accelerate innovation and improve health.

At the heart of the Academy is our Fellowship: a community of around 1,600 leading biomedical and health scientists who work alongside wider networks of researchers, clinicians, patients, industry and policymakers to improve health.

We also work closely with the UK’s other national academies as part of a wider community collaborating across disciplines to connect expertise that delivers benefits for society.

Video transcript

[Roz Campion] The Academy of Medical Sciences

[Lennard Lee] is our North Star for medical research.

[Roz Campion] A globally connected,

[Helen Minnis] exciting group of fresh thinkers

[Roz Campion] that cares about impact.

[Ara Darzi] It is the voice of science. It is the voice of translation. It is the voice of the patient.

[Roz Campion] At the heart of the Academy is our Fellowship of over 1500 brilliant medical science researchers. Whatever part of the medical sciences world they come from, there is a clear focus on passion for their science, passion for discoveries and passion for impact.

[Lennard Lee] I see people and they ask me what more can be done doctor, and I know so much can be done in the UK and that's what really motivates me.

[Helen Minnis] You're really faced with people's suffering, but what really keeps you going as a scientist is that you can make some change.

[Roz Campion] For medical sciences to reach patients you need to be connecting a huge huge array of people.

[Bernadine Idowu] Nothing is isolated. You cannot do education without research. You cannot do research without thinking about policy.

[Tony Wood] The Academy is a unique integrator that can influence policy makers to bring together every piece of the UK ecosystem to the benefit of patients.

[Ara Darzi] It's the conductor of the orchestra and that's a vital role because it understands the role of every contributor in that orchestra and what instruments they're playing.

[Helen Minnis] I think the way that we build trust in science is to be relational and to communicate as human beings.

[Ara Darzi] You should never forget as a responsible clinician or a scientist, making sure you bring the public with you.

[Roz Campion] Our independence means that we can set out really honestly and clearly what the challenges are facing the healthcare sector at the moment. To be looking at the problems that nobody else is looking at and then to be helping solve them. Supporting the next generation of medical researchers is absolutely fundamental.

[Bernadine Idowu] We need to find a cure for so many diseases. We need to keep saying to students, we need you, we need your diversity of thought. We're already starting to spike their minds, make them start thinking of their future and the impact they can make.

[Tony Wood] Isn't that what we're searching for? Purpose, confidence, continued education, and partnership on behalf of patients.

[Ara Darzi] There's no other organisation that actually does that, and the Academy of Medical Sciences has really closed that gap.

[Lennard Lee] Over the last 5 years, medical research in the UK has been transformed.

[Roz Campion] As a country, we have made a few really clever bets. We have bet a lot on genomics. We've bet a lot on health data.

[Tony Wood] We've never before been at a point where the science in medical sciences can be so impactful on the future of the medicine in medical sciences.

[Roz Campion] I want us to be known for being the organisation that has enabled the UK to have better health outcomes across the totality of society.

Impact at a glance

Scale and reach

Founded in 1998
1,600 Fellows across biomedical and health sciences
Proactively works at local, regional and national levels across the UK.

Research and collaboration

£100 million+ research funding awarded to progress medical science
1,725+ grants made for research to improve health
2,720 participants on our research career development programmes
300+ people involved in our Forum every year
64 partner universities across the UK
A nationwide collective of patients and members of the public.

The Academy has become the most influential voice on medical science in the UK. It is wonderful to see the impact it makes on policy thinking nationally and internationally.
Lord Vallance FMedSci UK Minister for Science, Innovation, Research and Nuclear

The Academy is recognised as a leading voice in medical science and policy in the UK and internationally.
Victor Dzau, President, US National Academy of Medicine

We are a registered charity in England and Wales no.1185329, incorporated by Royal Charter registration number, RC000905.

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