Two of our group leaders, Professor Oliver Howes and Professor Oscar Marín, who is also Director of the Centre, have been elected as Fellows to the Academy of Medical Sciences, an accolade to the excellence of their contributions to the medical sciences.

Fellows are central to the work of the Academy of Medical Sciences, whose mission is to advance biomedical and health research and its translation into benefits for society. The Academy seeks to promote and develop high quality medical science to position the UK to lead the world in medical and health research and improve global health through the best research. The organisation is supported by its Fellows through four key objectives: promoting excellence, developing talented researchers, influencing research and policy and engaging patients, the public and professionals.

Fellows are drawn from a wide array of medical science research from the wet lab through to social science and the law.

Oliver Howes is Professor of Molecular Psychiatry in the Department of Psychosis Studies at King’s College and a group leader in our MRC Centre. His work addresses the causes and treatment of psychotic and affective disorders. His recent work has focussed on understanding the role of dopamine and neuroinflammation in the development of psychosis, the effects of antipsychotic drugs, and the causes of cognitive impairments. Professor Howes is also a Consultant Psychiatrist and he runs a service for people with psychoses.

Oliver Howes said of his election as Fellow:

”I’m honoured to be selected to join the Academy. The Academy plays an important role in fostering medical research across disciplines. I am pleased to be able to represent psychiatric research in this, particularly when we are all facing challenges from COVID-19”

Oscar Marín, Professor of Neuroscience, is Director of our MRC Centre and Director of the Centre for Developmental Neurobiology. His lab’s research focusses on the development of the cortex in both health and disease. Their work contributes to understanding the aetiology of some of the most devastating neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders by looking at how and why the cortex may develop differently in these conditions. Multiple lines of evidence support the hypothesis that cortical interneuron dysfunction plays a critical role in the pathophysiology of disorders such as epilepsy, autism and schizophrenia. Oscar’s work on the mechanisms controlling the migration, final allocation and connectivity of cortical interneurons builds upon this, offering crucial insights for translation into clinical initiatives.

Of his election as Fellow, Oscar Marín said:

“I am delighted to be elected as a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences. This great honour reflects the collective research efforts of the many talented technicians, students, postdocs and fellows I’ve been fortunate enough to work with over the years. I look forward to working with other Fellows to advance biomedical research and, in particular, to promote the progression of early career researchers through this difficult period. Our society needs their talent, now more than ever”

Oliver, Oscar and the other newly elected Fellows will be formally admitted as Fellows to the Academy of Medical Sciences at a ceremony in London later this year.