The Academy of Medical Sciences welcomed Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal to its headquarters yesterday, marking 10 years of support from donors who have advanced innovation in biomedical research and policy.

Since Her Royal Highness first opened the Academy’s 41 Portland Place headquarters in 2011, the organisation has experienced remarkable growth, increasing its charitable expenditure five-fold and expanding its influence across the UK and global health research landscape.

Her Royal Highness, a Royal Fellow of the Academy, joined donors, Fellows, researchers, patient and public partners, and staff to celebrate the profound impact of this external support, which has enabled the Academy to drive advances in medical science for society’s benefit.

During the visit, which took place as part of the Academy’s Helix Reception, Her Royal Highness met with researchers whose careers have been shaped by Academy initiatives, including programmes that have supported 62 early-career researchers this year alone and 253 women in biomedical research over the past decade.

Her Royal Highness also met with Academy Fellows and staff to explore the organisation’s growth and pioneering work across medical research, policy and public involvement and thanked donors and stakeholders for their continued commitment to advancing medical science.

Professor Andrew Morris CBE FRSE PMedSci, President of the Academy of Medical Sciences, said:

“It was a privilege to welcome Her Royal Highness back to the Academy as we mark a decade of impact made possible by the generosity of our Helix donors. As a Royal Fellow of the Academy, Her Royal Highness plays a vital role in championing medical sciences. The visit served as a powerful reminder of the importance of shaping a healthier future through collaboration, innovation, and involvement.

“Whether it’s supporting women leaders in science, enabling partnership working across industry, the NHS and academia, or embedding patient voices in research, the Academy is committed to building a more equitable and impactful research environment. We are proud to celebrate this milestone and thank all those who made it possible.”

Her Royal Highness was given an overview of the Academy’s flagship initiatives, which are supported by core grants from the UK Government Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) and Wellcome:

• Springboard, which this year has awarded over £7.6 million to support 62 early-career biomedical researchers across 41 UK institutions – marking the largest single round of investment since the scheme began in 2015.
• SUSTAIN, the Academy’s flagship programme supporting women in biomedical research, which has now supported 253 women to thrive in their research careers over the past decade through a year-long programme of leadership development.
• FORUM, which brings together leaders from academia, industry, the NHS, patients, government, and the wider healthcare sector to foster cross-sector collaboration to tackle urgent health challenges.
• Cross-Sector Experience Awards, a funding scheme launched in 2023 that offers flexible grants of up to £100,000 to enable individuals to work across different sectors and broaden their perspectives – fostering innovation and leadership in the health research community.

Each programme plays a unique role in unifying experts, funders, policymakers, patients and the public – partnerships that are essential to tackling complex health challenges.

Over the course of the afternoon, guests explored inspiring stories of how funding has catalysed the careers of researchers and supported patient involvement. A series of interactive installations reflected key priority areas: enabling cross-sector collaboration, supporting early-career researchers, and embedding patient perspectives in research and policy.

Her Royal Highness met with researchers, donors, and members of the Academy’s Patient Collective. In 2024 alone, over 80 people registered to join the Patient Collective – a growing network that ensures the patient voice is meaningfully included in medical research and policy development. Members spoke with Her Royal Highness to share how their insights have helped shape funding decisions, inform research priorities and improve health policy.

In the Council Chamber, guests heard from Fellows and researchers supported through Academy initiatives, notably the Springboard and SUSTAIN programmes that aim to remove barriers to research careers and create inclusive environments for researchers from all backgrounds. Presentations also highlighted the Academy’s vital work to improve child health, including our recent policy report that urges action to address worsening health outcomes for children in the UK.

Dr Charlotte-Eve Short, a Clinical Lecturer and participant in the SUSTAIN programme, shared her story. After facing personal and professional challenges that put her research on hold, SUSTAIN gave Dr Short the confidence, community and tools to re-establish her career. Her work on bacterial vaginosis – a common yet under-researched condition – is now advancing better diagnostics and treatments that could improve the lives of countless women.

Dr Short, said:

“I was at a point in my career where I felt there was a real imbalance between where I was compared to others. I knew I had reasons for that, but it was still difficult, and meeting other women in a similar position was huge. It helped me understand that my struggles were real, and that they were struggles that other people have too.

“You can’t underestimate the impact that the Academy has had on researchers like me, who may not have had the most straightforward career. SUSTAIN is enabling very talented people, who may have given up, to continue their research and reach their full potential.”

Sarah Porter, Head of Fundraising at the Academy of Medical Sciences, said:

“We feel fortunate to be able to share the vibrant stories behind our work with Her Royal Highness, as a Royal Fellow, and our Helix donor community. From Springboard awardees to members of our Patient Collective, Her Royal Highness saw first-hand how donor support is building a more-inclusive, collaborative and impactful biomedical and health research community.”

The Academy remains committed to translating scientific progress into real-world improvements in public health – a mission made possible by the vital support of our generous donors and funders who help sustain this momentum.

About HELIX:

The event celebrated the impactful work made possible by the Academy’s Helix donors – a community of committed supporters who contribute unrestricted funding to the Academy’s Development Fund. This vital funding contributes to the Academy’s support for researchers at every stage of their career and influence health policy at the highest level. Find out more about how to donate here.

Image 1: Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal accompanied by Professor Andrew Morris CBE PMedSci, President of the Academy of Medical Sciences and Dr Rachel Quinn, Acting Executive Director of the Academy of Medical Sciences. [Credit: Academy of Medical Sciences and BigT Images]

Image 2: Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal in conversation with Dr Charlotte-Eve Short, Clinical Lecturer and SUSTAIN programme participant. [Credit: Academy of Medical Sciences and BigT Images]