The Academy of Medical Science has elected Professor Bill Newman, Consultant in Genomic Medicine, Manchester Centre for Genomic Medicine, Saint Mary’s Hospital, to its prestigious Fellowship, in recognition of his many achievements and outstanding contributions to research in pharmacogenetics and rare conditions.
The Professor of Translational Genomic Medicine at The University of Manchester, is one of 58 exceptional biomedical and health scientists elected to the Academy’s Fellowship for 2024 – an endorsement of an individual’s significant impact in their field.
Professor Newman, who is also Rare Conditions Co-Theme Lead at the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Manchester Biomedical Research Centre (BRC), said: “I am honoured and delighted to receive this acknowledgment from the Academy of Medical Science.
“This award reflects the work and commitment of all the patients, researchers and clinicians that I have worked with, who have supported the many initiatives in which I have been privileged to lead.
“I look forward to joining the Fellowship of researchers, at the heart of the Academy’s work, including nurturing the next generation of researchers and shaping research and health policy in the UK and worldwide.”
Through his work in pharmacogenetics which involves understanding why patients respond differently to their medication, he has also led innovative point of care genetic studies to prevent critically ill newborn babies, usually treated with a common antibiotic, from going deaf. This has resulted in a ground-breaking bedside test that is now being used in routine clinical practice in maternity settings at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) and will be rolled out at NHS trusts across Greater Manchester in the summer. This work has been supported by the NIHR Manchester BRC, hosted by MFT.
In addition to this, Bill’s national leadership roles include Chair of the British Society for Genetic Medicine and President Elect of the European Society of Human Genetics, having led the education committee for the past five years.
The new Fellows will be formally admitted to the Academy at a ceremony on Wednesday 18 September 2024.
The Academy of Medical Sciences is the independent, expert body representing the diversity of medical science in the UK. Its mission is to advance biomedical and health research and its translation into benefits for society. The Academy’s elected Fellows are the most influential scientists in the UK and worldwide, drawn from the NHS, academia, industry and the public service.