The Academy of Medical Sciences has elected 54 exceptional biomedical and health scientists to its prestigious Fellowship, it has been announced today.
The new Fellows have been recognised for their remarkable contributions to advancing medical science, groundbreaking research discoveries and translating developments into benefits for patients and the wider public. Their work exemplifies the Academy’s mission to create an open and progressive research sector that improves health for everyone.
The expertise of Fellows elected spans a wide range of clinical and non-clinical disciplines, from infectious disease and stem cell biology to veterinary medicine and dementia research. They join an esteemed Fellowship of 1,450 researchers who are at the heart of the Academy’s work, which includes nurturing the next generation of scientists and shaping research and health policy in the UK and worldwide.
Two of the new Fellows are former recipients of the Academy’s prestigious Foulkes Foundation medal which recognises rising stars within biomedical research: Professor Cristina Lo Celso (Imperial College London), for her pioneering microscopy techniques to support the treatment of patients with leukaemia, and Professor Sam Behjati (Wellcome Sanger Institute and University of Cambridge), for his work on improving diagnosis and treatments of childhood cancers.
This year’s cohort reflects the Academy’s ongoing commitment to promoting equality, diversity and inclusion within its Fellowship. Among the new Fellows, 41% are women – matching last year’s intake. Black, Asian and minority ethnic representation has reached 20% as the Academy continues working on improving the diversity of its Fellowship.
Among the 2025 Fellows is Professor Melita Gordon (University of Edinburgh), a clinical researcher who has worked in Malawi on invasive Salmonella disease since 1997. She led a pivotal clinical trial demonstrating that the Typhoid Conjugate Vaccines are safe and effective against Salmonella Typhi, which led to more than seven million children receiving the vaccine during one of Malawi’s largest immunisation campaigns in 2023. She continues to work on vaccines for other serious invasive Salmonella infections.
Professor Gordon said: “I am honoured that this work in global health has been recognised as significant, since it is the result of many years of work by a large team of colleagues, partners and collaborators. I am looking forward to expanding the scope and impact of this research, from both collaborating with other Academy Fellows and engaging with the public to increase awareness and understanding of how vaccines can improve health globally.”
Professor Chris Chiu (Imperial College London) has also been elected this year. He is an infectious disease and immunologist whose research focuses on pathogenesis and protective immunity in human respiratory viral infections, including respiratory syncytial virus (known as RSV), influenza and SARS-CoV-2. These are among the most important causes of severe disease worldwide, with an urgent need for improved vaccines and treatments.
Professor Chiu said: “It is an honour to have been elected to the Fellowship of the Academy of Medical Sciences. Respiratory viruses are a major global health threat, and there remains an urgent need to develop the next generation of vaccines and treatments through better understanding of immunity in humans. This challenge can only be addressed by promoting innovative and collaborative research, a central aspect of the Academy’s mission that will advance public health around the world.”
Professor Kathryn Abel (University of Manchester) joins the Fellowship following groundbreaking research on the effects of maternal condition and fetal environment on offspring outcomes, with a particular focus on children living with parental mental illness, who face multiple disadvantages. In this growing group of children at risk, her work highlights when, and in which children, interventions are most likely to improve outcomes. This allows policy makers and service planners to optimise the value of limited resources for a growing population in need.
Professor Abel said: “Nearly half of UK children will experience a parent with significant mental illness by the age of 16 and, as a result, will have worse physical and mental health, lower educational attainment and reduced quality of life. We can now harness the UK’s fantastic data resources and, along with novel imaging and clinical prediction models, support families most in need in this growing at-risk group. I am truly delighted to be elected as a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences – a uniquely effective platform through which I can continue to advocate for this vulnerable and hidden group of children.”
Professor Robert Semple (University of Edinburgh) has been elected for his work in translational molecular medicine. His research focuses on rare and severe hormonal and metabolic disorders caused by changes in single genes. His lab has discovered numerous genetic diseases featuring diabetes, low blood glucose or insulin resistance, with findings that improve understanding of common conditions linked to obesity.
Professor Semple said: “I am very proud to have been recognised in this way by my peers. As ever, I am incredibly grateful to the many talented researchers, both clinical and fundamental, who have passed through my lab over the years. I am acutely conscious that it is their efforts that I am in part being recognised for. I’m excited to join the fellowship for the engagement and collaboration with interesting and engaged senior researchers which it offers, and also so I can play my role in supporting the next generations to grow and thrive as their talents deserve through the Academy’s wonderful funding and mentorship schemes.”
Professor Andrew Morris CBE FRSE PMedSci, President of the Academy of Medical Sciences, said: “It is a privilege to welcome these 54 exceptional scientists to our Fellowship. Each new Fellow brings unique expertise and perspective to addressing the most significant health challenges facing society.
“The breadth of disciplines represented in this year’s cohort – from mental health and infectious disease to cancer biology and respiratory medicine – reflects the rich diversity of medical science today. Their election comes at a crucial time when scientific excellence and collaboration across disciplines are essential for addressing global health challenges both now and in the future. We look forward to working with them to advance biomedical research and create an environment where the best science can flourish for the benefit of people everywhere.”
The new Fellows will be formally admitted to the Academy at a ceremony on Wednesday 9 July 2025.
The full list of Academy of Medical Sciences Fellows elected in 2025:
Professor Rickie Patani, Francis Crick Institute
Dr Vishal Gulati, Recode Ventures
Professor Chris Chiu, Imperial College London
Professor Cristina Lo Celso, Imperial College London
Professor Guy Rutter, Imperial College London
Professor Sejal Saglani, Imperial College London
Professor Helen Ward, Imperial College London
Professor Benjamin Blencowe, King’s College London
Professor Philip Newsome, King’s College London
Professor Andrew Shennan, King’s College London
Professor Jernej Ule, King’s College London
Professor Moffat Nyirenda, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
Dr Jill Richardson, MSD
Professor Clare Bambra, Newcastle University
Professor Robert Taylor, Newcastle University
Dr Melanie Saville, PATH
Professor Jonathan Grigg, Queen Mary University of London
Professor Claudia Langenberg, Queen Mary University of London
Professor Anna Gloyn, Stanford University
Professor Anna David, University College London
Professor Christina Pagel, University College London
Professor Jonathan Schott, University College London
Professor Roz Shafran, University College London
Professor Danail Stoyanov, University College London
Professor Gregory Towers, University College London
Professor David Werring, University College London
Professor Melanie Calvert, University of Birmingham
Professor Dion Morton, University of Birmingham
Professor John Terry, University of Birmingham
Professor Nicholas Timpson, University of Bristol
Professor Clare Bryant, University of Cambridge
Professor Frank Reimann, University of Cambridge
Professor Mina Ryten, University of Cambridge
Professor David Horn, University of Dundee
Professor Inke Näthke, University of Dundee
Professor Melita Gordon, University of Edinburgh
Professor Robert Semple, University of Edinburgh
Professor Caroline Wright, University of Exeter
Professor Kathryn Abel, University of Manchester
Professor Anthony Day, University of Manchester
Professor Matt Sutton, University of Manchester
Professor Sube Banerjee, University of Nottingham
Professor Charalambos Antoniades, University of Oxford
Professor Simon Draper, University of Oxford
Professor Matt Higgins, University of Oxford
Professor Dame Molly Stevens, University of Oxford
Professor Naomi Wray, University of Oxford
Professor James Catto, University of Sheffield
Professor Deborah Dunn-Walters, University of Surrey
Professor Jaime Miranda, University of Sydney
Professor Bernadine Idowu, University of West London
Professor David Kent, University of York
Professor Amar Rangan, University of York
Professor Sam Behjati, Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute