Published: 11 May 2022 | Last Updated: 11 May 2022 12:27:05

Professor Joanne P. Webster, Chair of Parasitic Diseases at the Royal Veterinary College (RVC), has this week been elected as a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences (FMedSci) for her exceptional contributions to the advancement of biomedical and health research, combining fundamental research with direct disease control activities across both humans and animals. Elected by the Academy of Medical Sciences (AMS), upon receiving this fellowship, our records indicate that Professor Webster is only the second ever RVC staff member to receive this honour.

The AMS is an independent UK body which aims to advance biomedical and health research and its translation into benefits for society. The Fellows, which hail from various professions allied to the medical sciences, are awarded the fellowships in recognition of the ‘’excellence of their science, their contribution to medicine and society and the range of their achievements” which is reflected throughout the AMS’ work.

Nominated by existing Fellows and reviewed by eight Sectional Committees, the FMedSci shortlist is extensively reviewed before electing only 50 or so fellows each year.

Demonstrating her longstanding commitment to science and the betterment of society, alongside her role at the RVC, 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 is also on the Board of Directors of Fauna and Flora International; sits on a number of 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.

Professor Joanne Webster FMedSci, Chair of Parasitic Disease at the RVC and Director of the Centre for Neglected Tropical Disease Research 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.”

Notes to Editors

For media enquiries, please contact:

• Jasmin De Vivo jasmin.devivo@plmr.co.uk or rvc@plmr.co.uk
• Press Line: 0800 368 9520

About the RVC

• The Royal Veterinary College (RVC) is the UK's largest and longest established independent veterinary school and is a Member Institution of the University of London.
• It is one of the few veterinary schools in the world that hold accreditations from the RCVS in the UK (with reciprocal recognition from the AVBC for Australasia, the VCI for Ireland and the SAVC for South Africa), the EAEVE in the EU, and the AVMA in the USA and Canada.
• The RVC is ranked as the top veterinary school in the world in line with the QS World University Rankings by subject, 2022.
• The RVC offers undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in veterinary medicine, veterinary nursing and biological sciences.
• A research led institution with 79% of its research rated as internationally excellent or world class in the Research Excellence Framework 2014.
• The RVC provides animal owners and the veterinary profession with access to expert veterinary care and advice through its teaching hospitals and first opinion practices in London and Hertfordshire.