Dr Nitzan Rosenfeld elected to the Academy of Medical Sciences Fellows

Senior Group Leader Dr Nitzan Rosenfeld joins 50 leading biomedical and health scientists elected to the prestigious Academy of Medical Sciences Fellowship.

The new Fellows have been chosen for their exceptional contributions to advancing biomedical science via world-leading research discoveries, running national science communication and engagement programmes and translating scientific advances into benefits for patients and the public.

Dr Nitzan Rosenfeld’s expertise is in liquid biopsy and translational cancer research. His research group has established applications of circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) sequencing through whole exome, hybrid capture, and amplicon-based methods to analyze ctDNA from blood samples of cancer patients.

The value of medical science has never been more apparent than during the current coronavirus global health crisis. From testing and vaccine development, to public health and behavioural science, to addressing the impacts of lockdown measures on mental health, biomedical and health scientists are helping to guide the UK through unprecedented challenges.

 

Many of the Academy’s newly elected Fellows are at the forefront of the efforts to tackle coronavirus, such as Professor Menna Clatworthy FMedSci and Professor Muzlifah Haniffa FMedSci who together have led a study looking at why the novel coronavirus affects individual people so differently. As the Director of the Uganda Virus Research Institute, new Fellow Professor Pontiano Kaleebu FMedSci has been at the forefront of Uganda’s fight against the virus, leading on testing, evaluating new tests and training Uganda’s laboratories to carry out this essential work.

Several new Fellows have redirected their research efforts to tackle the effects of the pandemic, such as Professor Ludovic Vallier FMedSci, a stem cell expert, who has refocussed his team to study the effects of coronavirus on the liver. Professor Tamsin Ford FMedSci, a Professor of Psychiatry, has channelled her expertise into looking at mental health impacts of the pandemic on children and young people. Some new Fellows are using their expertise and leadership in other ways, such as Professor Andy Waters FMedSci who has loaned materials and infrastructure and is working with international partners in Malawi to help with preparedness – demonstrating the collaborative and ‘team science’ nature that the Academy’s Fellowship strives to embody. Others remain focused on important health challenges that must continue to be addressed during the pandemic, or are involved in efforts to ensure the UK will remain at the forefront of science after the pandemic.

Professor Sir Robert Lechler PMedSci, President of the Academy of Medical Sciences said: 

“I am delighted to welcome these 50 new Fellows into the Academy’s Fellowship. Each one has made their own outstanding contribution to biomedical science, and together they are advancing the health of our society in the UK and internationally. Their work affects us all, from the way we keep healthy through our lifestyle, to how we are treated if we become ill, to the way we receive information about health.

“This year our new Fellows announcement happens amidst a global health crisis. Some will face the challenge of how to continue to lead on some of the most pressing health challenges our society faces beyond coronavirus, such as heart disease, diabetes or cancer. Others have joined the global research effort to tackle the coronavirus pandemic, whether that be through working out how to treat those with the virus, joining efforts to develop a vaccine, or looking to limit the impact of the pandemic more broadly on our physical and mental health.

“Never has there been a more important time to recognise and celebrate the people behind ground-breaking biomedical and health research, working harder than ever to further knowledge and protect patients and the public.

“It brings me great pleasure to congratulate the new Fellows, and see our Fellowship grow to even greater heights of evidence-based advice, leadership and expertise.”

Professor Philippa Saunders FRSE FMedSci, Registrar of the Academy of Medical Sciences, said: 

“Our health depends on the highest quality biomedical science, something which is even more important with the broad health challenges facing the world today, from pandemics to climate change. The best science requires the best minds from a wide range of backgrounds coming into biomedical science, and importantly moving through to senior and leadership positions.

“I am delighted that our new Fellows of 2020 show increased diversity. Our Fellows of 2020 include the joint highest proportion of Black, Asian and ethnic minority biomedical and health experts ever elected to the Academy, at 12%. 19 of our new Fellows are women, representing 38% of our new Fellows elected in 2020 and equalling last year’s record high number of women elected. We have a broader regional spread, with scientists from beyond the ‘golden triangle’ up from one in four to one in three new Fellows, and a broader international spread, with 28% of our new Fellows coming from countries around the world.”

Two of the new Fellows are past winners of the Academy’s Foulkes Foundation Medal: Dr Nitzan Rosenfeld FMedSci and Professor Muzlifah Haniffa FMedSci and three others bring important knowledge, insight and expertise from working in the commercial sector.

The new Fellows will be formally admitted to the Academy on 25 June 2020.