野狼社区 professors become new Academy of Medical Sciences Fellows
Professors Kathryn Abel, Tony Day and Matt Sutton from The University of 野狼社区 have been elected as Fellows of the Academy of Medical Sciences, three of 54 exceptional biomedical and health scientists to achieve the award this year.
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鈥檚 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鈥檚 work, which includes nurturing the next generation of scientists and shaping research and health policy in the UK and worldwide.
This year鈥檚 cohort reflects the Academy鈥檚 ongoing commitment to promoting equality, diversity and inclusion within its Fellowship. Among the new Fellows, 41% are women 鈥� matching last year鈥檚 intake. Black, Asian and minority ethnic representation has reached 20% as the Academy continues working on improving the diversity of its Fellowship.
Professor Abel 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.
She said: 鈥淣early 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鈥檚 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 鈥� a uniquely effective platform through which I can continue to advocate for this vulnerable and hidden group of children.鈥�
Professor Tony Day, a member of the 野狼社区 Cell-Matrix Centre, is a world leader on glycosaminoglycan-protein interactions, which he has explored in the context of both physiological and inflammatory processes. For example, Tony has pioneered research on proteins that bind the polysaccharide hyaluronan, a central component of the mammalian extracellular matrix. Tony鈥檚 work has provided insights into the molecular basis of cumulus expansion, a process essential for ovulation, including the biochemistry of how the TSG-6 protein mediates the covalent modification of hyaluronan to form 鈥楬C鈥A鈥� complexes. Formation of these complexes also represents a novel pathway in inflammation, with important implications for ongoing work by Tony and colleagues on virus/parasite-induced lung pathologies.
Underpinned by his 30 years of research on TSG-6, Tony has developed a biological drug, 鈥楲ink_TSG6鈥�, that has wide applicability for inflammatory and tissue-degenerative diseases. To take this forward, he co-founded Link Biologics, a University of 野狼社区 spin out company that is developing treatments for dry eye disease and osteoarthritis, conditions that each affect ~350 of million individuals worldwide.
Professor Day said: "I am absolutely delighted to be elected as a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences and get recognition for my team鈥檚 research in the fields of matrix and glycosaminoglycan biology鈥�.
Professor Matt Sutton is an internationally-renowned health economist at the forefront of providing real-time, economic evidence to inform critical health policy choices. He has produced a body of highly-influential and practical work on payment methods and financial incentives in health care. He shows how these can improve the quality of care given to patients, increase system efficiency and reduce inequalities, but may also have unintended consequences.
He has demonstrated socioeconomic and ethnic inequalities are pervasive even in a national universal coverage system like the NHS and has helped improve fairness in the health sector across the United Kingdom by leading multiple reviews of the formulae used to direct additional resources to the areas of highest need.
Professor Sutton works closely with policy advisors and analysts in national organisations to ensure research reaches decision-makers. At critical points in policymaking, he produced evidence to challenge the presumption that the 鈥渨eekend effect鈥� in hospital mortality was caused by inadequate staffing, generated real-time findings on the effectiveness of the COVID vaccination programme, and demonstrated the effectiveness of the national diabetes prevention programme.
He said: 鈥淏eing elected a Fellow is great honour as it is a one of the highest recognitions of excellence in the field of biomedical and health research in the UK. It will be a crucial aid in contributing to national health policy discussions and provide a platform to influence decisions that shape healthcare.鈥�
Professor Andrew Morris CBE FRSE PMedSci, President of the Academy of Medical Sciences, said: 鈥淚t 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.
鈥淭he breadth of disciplines represented in this year鈥檚 cohort 鈥� from mental health and infectious disease to cancer biology and respiratory medicine 鈥� 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.鈥�
The new Fellows will be formally admitted to the Academy at a ceremony on Wednesday 9 July 2025.