Professors Stefano Pluchino and George Vassiliou have today been named Fellows of the Academy of Medical Sciences, one of the UK’s leading scientific organisations.
The fellowships recognise outstanding contributions to advancing medical science, including pioneering discovery research and translating innovation into tangible benefits for patients and the wider public.
Stefano Pluchino is an honorary consultant neurologist at Addenbrooke’s and Clinical Professor of Regenerative Neuroimmunology in the Department of Clinical Neurosciences at the University of Cambridge.
George Vassiliou is an honorary consultant haematologist at Addenbrooke’s and Professor of Haematological Medicine in the Department of Haematology at the University of Cambridge. He has a lab on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus at the Cambridge Stem Cell Institute.
The Academy of Medical Sciences has over 1,500 Fellows who are at the heart of the Academy’s work to nurture scientific talent and shape research and health policy in the UK and worldwide.
In total 60 new Fellows from more than 28 institutions have been announced today including seven in Cambridge.
Professor Stefano Pluchino
This election is a great honour and responsibility. I am dedicated to advancing stem cell technologies for neuroinflammatory diseases and fostering inclusive science for early-career researchers.
Trained in Italy at the University of Siena and the San Raffaele Scientific Institute in Milan, Professor Pluchino came to Cambridge in 2010.
His pioneering research has transformed our understanding of innovative therapeutics for neurological conditions, revealing that advanced therapies, including cell therapies, are able to reprogram the immune system to slow neurological disability.
Most recently, his team has been pioneering the use of advanced stem cell technologies that could lead to new treatments for multiple sclerosis.
Professor George Vassiliou
I am delighted and honoured to be elected a Fellow of the Academy. Medical Science is a team pursuit, and I owe this honour to the brilliance and dedication of my team and the generosity of my collaborators in Cambridge and beyond.
Born and raised in Cyprus, Professor Vassiliou trained in London and Cambridge. He established his research team at the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, moving to the University of Cambridge in 2019.
He is recognised for his pioneering research into the biology, pathogenesis and treatment of acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) and related cancers.
His work includes the co-discovery of clonal haematopoiesis (a condition affecting how bone marrow produces blood cells), transforming our understanding of how genetic changes and blood stem cell ageing drive the onset of leukaemia.
He has also explored the effects of key genetic changes in leukaemia and identified potential targets for treating AML by performing the first genome-wide screen of a human cancer using the gene editing technology CRISPR.
It is a privilege to welcome this outstanding new cohort to the Fellowship of the Academy of Medical Sciences. Each of our new Fellows brings exceptional expertise and a shared commitment to improving health through discovery research, clinical innovation, and the translation of evidence into practice and policy.
Professor Andrew Morris CBE FRSE PMedSci, President of the Academy of Medical Sciences