Professor Joanne P. Webster.

Professor Joanne P. Webster honoured for biomedical and health research.

Professor Joanne P. Webster, chair of parasitic diseases at the Royal Veterinary College (RVC), has been elected as a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences (FmedSci) in recognition of her contributions to the advancement of biomedical and health research. 

The Academy of Medical Sciences (AMS) is an independent UK body representing the diversity of medical science. Fellows hail from various allied professions, and are awarded fellowships in recognition of the 'excellence of their science, their contribution to medicine and society and the range of their achievements reflected throughout the AMS’ work.”

Professor Webster is the Director of the London Centre for Neglected Tropical Disease Research (LCNTDR) and holds a Professorial Chair in Infectious Diseases at Imperial College London’s Faculty of Medicine. 

She also sits on the Board of Directors of Fauna and Flora International; is on several World Health Organization (WHO) working groups, and has also led large-scale disease control programmes, focusing on children and at-risk adults across sub-Saharan Africa and beyond. 

Commenting on her achievement, Professor Webster said: “I am truly honoured and humbled to have been elected as a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences – FMedSci – such a prestigious award for medical scientists, across both human clinical and veterinary medicine. I feel this is undoubtedly one of the proudest moments, achievements and indeed recognitions in my career to date – and I could not be happier.

“The Covid-19 pandemic has clearly demonstrated the global impact of zoonotic diseases, and the importance of a One Health approach to help mitigate against this. It is a true honour and delight that the Academy of Medical Sciences has clearly placed such comparable recognition upon these ‘tropical diseases of the poor,’ and how multidisciplinary disease control and research activities can help us together to achieve those critical targets in terms of the world sustainable development goals and more, both now and in the future. 

“I will be forever grateful to all the wonderful and inspirational colleagues, group members, students and beyond who helped get me here.”

Professor Stuart Reid CBE, principal and president of the RVC said: “I am delighted for Joanne that she has been recognised for her career-long commitment to scientific excellence. Her election by the Academy also brings distinction to her many collaborators and her broader discipline – and it is a privilege to count her as a leading researcher at the Royal Veterinary College.” 

Image (C) RVC.