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Professor Tom Harrison

MRC CMM Member is elected as a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences

Professor Tom Harrison, one of the Principal Investigators of the MRC Centre for Medical Mycology, has been elected as a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences.

Professor Harrison joined the MRC CMM in August 2020, leading a research programme on the prevention and treatment of cryptococcal meningitis, the most common cause of meningitis in Africa, and responsible for an estimated 180,000 deaths per year and 10-20% of all HIV-related deaths. He is also the Deputy Director of the Institute for Infection and Immunity, and Lead for the Centre of Global Health at St George's University. He is also Honorary Consultant at St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

“I am really delighted to be elected as a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences, and to be able to contribute to the work of the Academy promoting and prioritizing biomedical research to tackle our most important health challenges and supporting the careers of younger researchers. 

“I am really lucky to have had such a great team of colleagues and collaborators to drive forward our programme of work to improve the treatment for patients with cryptococcal meningitis. And it is gratifying to see the results of our trials now being replicated in routine care – with similar reductions in mortality.

“I am very keen to build on this implementation work and extend some of the same approaches to other serious fungal pathogens with colleagues at CMM and in collaboration with the University of Cape Town- AFRICA CMM Unit.”

The Academy of Medical Sciences are the independent body in the UK representing the diversity of medical science. Their mission is to advance biomedical and health research and its translation into benefits for society.

Fellows are drawn from laboratory science, clinical academic medicine, veterinary science, dentistry, medical and nursing care, and other professions allied to medical science including ethics, social science, and the law. Candidates are selected for their outstanding contribution to the advancement of medical science, or for the application of existing scientific knowledge or understanding in an innovative way, to bring about advances in human health and welfare.

Tom will be formally admitted to the Academy on Monday 27th June 2022 with his cohort of 60 new Fellows.

Date: 18 May 2022

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