Published: 21 May 2024
12 NIHR researchers have been elected as Fellows of the Academy of Medical Sciences today. This includes one NIHR Research Professor, 8 NIHR Senior Investigators and 3 NIHR Emeritus Senior Investigators.
The Academy of Medical Sciences (AMS) has elected 58 Fellows this year. They join an esteemed Fellowship of over 1,400 researchers. The award is in recognition of contributions to:
- advancing biomedical and health sciences
- ground-breaking research discoveries
- translating developments into benefits for patients and wider society
This year’s awardees include Professor Waljit Dhillo, Dean of the NIHR Academy. He said: "I am extremely proud to be elected as a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences and it is an honour to be nominated alongside peers I admire who have made a positive difference to health and social care research.
"As the Dean of the NIHR Academy, it is a privilege to serve the academic community. We want to inspire future research leaders from different backgrounds and professions to become involved in life-changing research."
NIHR Research Professor Reecha Sofat was also awarded. She is the first participant of the AMS FLIER leadership programme to be elected to the Fellowship.
Fellows elected from diverse range of disciplines
The AMS is an independent, expert body representing the diversity of medical science in the UK. It aims to advance biomedical and health research and its translation into benefits for society.
This year’s Fellows includes a range of clinical and non-clinical disciplines, from midwifery to cancer stem cell biology. Among the new Fellows, 41% are women. This is the highest percentage ever elected.
Additionally, Black, Asian and minority ethnic representation is 29%. This is an 11% increase from the previous year. The new Fellows hold positions at institutions across the UK, including in Edinburgh, Birmingham, Liverpool, Manchester, Sheffield, Nottingham and York.
NIHR researchers elected as Fellows
- Professor Ammar Al-Chalabi, NIHR Senior Investigator, King’s College London (Neurology)
- Professor Jane Davies, NIHR Senior Investigator, Imperial College London (Paediatrics)
- Professor Alun Davies, NIHR Senior Investigator, Imperial College London (Vascular Surgery)
- Professor Waljit Dhillo, NIHR Senior Investigator, Imperial College London (Neuroendocrinology)
- Professor Nita Forouhi, NIHR Senior Investigator, University of Cambridge (Population Health and Nutrition)
- Professor Fang Gao Smith, NIHR Emeritus Senior Investigator, University of Birmingham (Anaesthesia and Critical care)
- Professor Azeem Majeed, NIHR Senior Investigator, Imperial College London (Primary Care)
- Professor Richard Riley, NIHR Senior Investigator, Keele University (Biostatistics)
- Professor Jane Sandall, NIHR Emeritus Senior Investigator, King’s College London (Midwifery)
- Professor Mark Sculpher, NIHR Emeritus Senior Investigator, University of York (Health Care Research)
- Professor Reecha Sofat, NIHR Research Professor, University of Liverpool (Clinical Pharmacology)
- Professor Shakila Thangaratinam, NIHR Senior Investigator, University of Birmingham (Maternal Health)
The new Fellows will be formally admitted to the Academy at a ceremony on Wednesday 18 September 2024.