Professor Bart Vanhaesebroeck has been made a Fellow of the UK Academy of Medical Sciences for his research which has wide-ranging implications for treating diseases such as cancer.
Professor Vanhaesebroeck is the Centre Lead for the Centre for Cell Signalling at Barts and The London Medical School and co-founder of the biotechnology company Activiomics.
He is one of only 40 researchers nationally to be given the award for his outstanding contributions to the advancement of medical science.
His research focuses on the way cells within the body communicate with each other and how this process can go wrong and cause disease. As a result of Professor Vanhaesebroeck’s research, new drugs are now being trialed to treat lymphoma and allergies.
Professor Vanhaesebroeck said: “I am very honoured to be elected to the Academy of Medical Sciences. This provides great inspiration to continue our efforts in translating knowledge from the laboratory to the clinic. Special credit should go to my research group, past and present, and my many collaborators who help us achieve these goals.”
The Academy of Medical Sciences promotes advances in medical science and campaigns to ensure these are translated into benefits for patients. The Academy’s Fellows are the UK’s leading medical scientists from hospitals, academia, industry and the public service.
Professor Sir John Bell FRS HonFREng PMedSci, President of the Academy of Medical Sciences said, ‘These new Fellows demonstrate the amazing talent present in the UK biomedical community. Thanks to these exceptional individuals the UK is home to some of the best medical science in the world. I am delighted that the Academy can recognise the vital role each one of them has played in delivering health and wealth benefits to the UK and beyond. Their work has ensured scientific discoveries make rapid progress from the laboratory bench to the patient’s bedside and I look forward to working with them.’
The new Fellows will be formally admitted to the Academy at a ceremony on Wednesday 29 June 2011.
For media information, contact: