UK DRI Director elected to the prestigious Academy of Medical Sciences Fellowship

It has been announced today that Prof Bart De Strooper, UK DRI Director, is one of fifty leading biomedical and health scientists elected to the Academy of Medical Sciences Fellowship for his work investigating dementia.

Selected from a pool of 415 nominees, 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.

Prof Bart De Strooper, said:

“I would like to sincerely thank the Academy of Medical Sciences for this award. I am honoured to be recognised amongst such esteemed friends and colleagues from the sciences.

Over the years, I have been supported by teams of exceptionally talented researchers and am immensely proud of the progress made thus far in the field of neurodegeneration. I am hopeful that these strong foundations will lead to new treatments for these devastating diseases in the near future.”

In a career that spans over 30 years, Prof Bart De Strooper has been at the forefront of investigations into the molecular and genetic causes of Alzheimer’s disease. His genetic work has seen the discovery of key mutations involved in the processing of the amyloid beta protein, which forms the hallmark plaques in Alzheimer’s disease. He now applies this understanding to study the reaction of brain cells in dementia, with the aim of finding viable molecular targets for treatment.  A Professor at the VIB and KU Leuven in Belgium, Prof De Strooper has now established a lab at UK DRI at UCL following his appointment as UK DRI Director. He has won numerous awards including the prestigious Brain Prize in 2018, alongside colleagues in the dementia field.

On this year’s Fellowships, Prof 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.”

The full list of recipients of this year’s Fellowships is available on the Academy of Medical Science’s website.

Article published: 13 May 2020