48 of the UK’s world leading researchers have been elected to join the prestigious Fellowship of the Academy of Medical Sciences, it has been announced today (Thursday 10 May).
The new Fellows have been elected for their outstanding contributions to biomedical and health science, leading research discoveries, and translating developments into benefits for patients and the wider society.
This year's elected Fellows have expertise that spans sleep research, infectious and tropical diseases, diabetes medicine, parasite biology and ultrasound research and technology among many other fields.
Three new Fellows bring invaluable insight and expertise from an industrial background.
Professor Sir Robert Lechler PMedSci, President of the Academy of Medical Sciences said:
“The Academy simply could not tackle major health and policy challenges without our dynamic and diligent brain trust of Fellows. I extend my warmest congratulations to all who are joining us this year, each of whom has earnt this prestige by advancing their own field of biomedical science.
“Later this year the Academy will celebrate 20 years of supporting the translation of biomedical and health research into benefits for society. As we celebrate this special anniversary we stand at a crossroads of both enormous health challenges and great opportunity for medical sciences. So I am delighted to see the remarkable breadth and depth of the expertise within our 48 new Fellows. We look forward to these experts joining us in addressing the health challenges we face head on and exploiting opportunities to improve health in the UK and internationally.”
The newly elected Fellows include Professor Ruth Plummer FMedSci, who leads ground-breaking clinical trials testing new cancer medicines in patients, Professor Derk-Jan Dijk FMedSci who directs a multidisciplinary sleep research centre, Professor Peter Hutchinson FMedSci, a neurosurgeon who specialises in neurological trauma management and Professor Susan Jebb OBE FMedSci, a leading nutrition scientist whose research focusses on tackling obesity and related ill-health.
Professor Susan Jebb OBE FMedSci, Professor of Diet and Population Health, University of Oxford, said:
“I feel very honoured and absolutely delighted to have been elected to the Fellowship of the Academy of Medical Sciences. It is a huge privilege to join this group of people who individually have made such important scientific advances. As a combined force the Fellows shape the way scientific research is conducted in the UK and develop ways to tackle the big health challenges now and in the future. I am really looking forward to contributing to this important work, especially activities linked to improving the health of the public which is the focus of my own research.”
Professor Philippa Saunders FMedSci, Registrar of the Academy of Medical Sciences said:
"The Academy is working hard to make sure that we represent the true diversity of UK medical science in our Fellowship. We are pleased to have a retained a high proportion of women Fellows in this year’s intake, but will continue our work to increase diversity in all its forms within our Fellowship in coming years.”
Professor Ruth Plummer FMedSci, Professor of Experimental Cancer Medicine, Newcastle University, said:
“I am truly honoured to be elected into the Fellowship of The Academy of Medical Sciences, most importantly for the recognition it brings to my dedicated research team, a group who work tirelessly to take new cancer drugs into the clinic.
“I look forward to working with the Academy, in particular the vital roles the Academy plays in mentoring and supporting early career researchers.
“The UK has a unique environment for effectively delivering clinical research to patients and the public, however this can only be maintained with close support and development of the next generation of clinical researchers, something the Academy plays a key role in.”
16 of the new Fellows are women, representing 33% of the total elected in 2018. The total women in the pool of candidates was 28%, a 2% increase from last year.
The new Fellows will be formally admitted to the Academy at a ceremony on 27 June 2018.
Full list of Fellows elected in 2018
Dr David Adams, Senior Group Leader, Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute
Professor Louise Arseneault, Professor of Developmental Psychology, King's College London
Professor Eleanor Barnes, Professor of Hepatology and Experimental Medicine, University of Oxford
Professor Simon Baron-Cohen FBA, Professor of Developmental Psychopathology, University of Cambridge
Professor David Beeson, Professor in Molecular Neuroscience, University of Oxford
Professor Ashley Blom, Head of the Department of Translational Health Sciences, University of Bristol
Professor Elizabeth Corbett, Professor of Tropical Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
Professor Augusto Claudio Cuello, Charles E Frosst/Merck Chair in Pharmacology, McGill University
Professor Melanie Davies CBE, Professor of Diabetes Medicine, University of Leicester
Professor Panagiotis Deloukas, Professor of Cardiovascular Genomics, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London
Professor Derk-Jan Dijk, Professor of Sleep and Physiology, University of Surrey
Professor John Edmunds OBE, Dean, Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, and Professor of Infectious Disease Modelling, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
Dr Susan Galbraith, Senior Vice-President & Head Oncology Innovative Medicines, AstraZeneca
Professor Simon Griffin, Professor of General Practice, University of Cambridge
Professor Ian Hall, Boots Chair in Therapeutics & Honorary Consultant Physician NUH NHS Trust, Director Centre for Bimolecular Sciences, University of Nottingham
Professor Giles Hardingham FRSE, City of Edinburgh Professor of Pharmacology; Associate Director, UK Dementia Research Institute, University of Edinburgh
Professor Elaine Holmes, Professor of Chemical Biology, Head of Computational and Systems Medicine, Imperial College London
Professor James Huntington, Professor of Molecular Haemostasis, University of Cambridge
Professor Peter Hutchinson, Professor of Neurosurgery, University of Cambridge
Professor Susan Jebb OBE, Professor of Diet and Population Health, University of Oxford
Professor Frank Kelly, Professor of Environmental Health, King's College London
Professor Mika Kivimaki, Professor, Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London
Dr James Larkin, Consultant in Medical Oncology and Honorary Senior Lecturer, Royal Marsden Hospital
Professor Timothy Leighton FRS FREng, Professor of Ultrasonics and Underwater Acoustics, University of Southampton
Professor Giovanna Lombardi, Professor of Immunology, King's College London
Professor Robert MacLaren, Professor of Ophthalmology, University of Oxford
Professor Margaret Maclean MBE FRSE, Professor of Pulmonary Pharmacology, University of Glasgow
Professor Richard Maizels FRSE, Professor of Parasitology, University of Glasgow
Professor Jonathan Mant, Professor of Primary Care Research, University of Cambridge
Professor Keith Matthews FRSE, Professor of Parasite Biology, University of Edinburgh
Professor Christopher Nutting, Consultant and Professor in Clinical Oncology, Royal Marsden Hospital
Professor Ruth Plummer, Professor of Experimental Cancer Medicine, Newcastle University
Professor Jordan Raff, César Milstein Professor of Cancer Cell Biology, University of Oxford
Professor Lalita Ramakrishnan, Professor of Medicine and Infectious Disease, University of Cambridge
Professor David Rowitch, Professor of Paediatrics & Head of the Department of Paediatrics, University of Cambridge
Dr William Schafer, Programme Leader, MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology
Professor Nicole Soranzo, Head of Human Complex Traits Group, Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute
Professor Robert Steele, Professor of Surgery and Head of Cancer Research Division, University of Dundee
Professor Jesper Svejstrup FRS, Senior Group Leader, The Francis Crick Institute
Professor Guy Thwaites, Professor of Infectious Diseases, University of Oxford and Director, Oxford University Clinical Research Unit, Wellcome Trust Major Overseas Research Program in Vietnam
Professor Martin Tobin, Professor of Genetic Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Leicester
Dr Sharon Tooze, Senior Scientist, The Francis Crick Institute; Honorary Professor, University College London
Professor Jørgen Vestbo, Professor Respiratory Medicine, University of Manchester
Dr Pauline Williams, Senior Vice President and Head of Global Health R&D, GlaxoSmithKline
Professor Catherine Williamson, Professor of Women’s Health, King's College London
Professor Paula Williamson, Professor of Medical Statistics, University of Liverpool
Dr Anthony Wood, Senior Vice President and Head of Platform Technologies and Sciences, GlaxoSmithKline
Professor Mark Woodward, Professor of Epidemiology and Statistics, University of Oxford
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