Home  Media Press releases 2002
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| 1 May 2002 | 2002-05-01T00:00:00.0000000+01:00 |
| PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY LEADERS ELECTED FELLOWS OF ACADEMY OF MEDICAL SCIENCES
Dr. Tom McKillop, Chief Executive of AstraZeneca, and Dr. Barry Furr, Chief Scientist and Head of Project Evaluation for AstraZeneca, have been elected Fellows of the Academy of Medical Sciences, a member of the influential grouping of UK national Academies, and are now entitled to use the designation FMedSci. | Established in 1998 to act as an authoritative body to promote medical science across traditional disciplinary boundaries, the organisation holds its annual elections in April. The most important criterion that a candidate should meet is sustained excellence in terms of scholarly contribution of benefit to medical science. All candidates for Fellowship underwent stringent peer review and assessment by one or more of four sectional committees of existing Fellows. This year 83 out of 250 high-calibre candidates were successful. The Fellowship, now totalling 713, represents the interests of the whole spectrum of academic medicine and related medical sciences. "I am honoured to be elected to such a prestigious group of scientists from such a broad range of medical disciplines. I believe this Fellowship, and that of my colleague Barry Furr, recognises the role of pharmaceutical industry leaders in supporting medical advances and translating them as quickly as possible into patient benefits," said Dr. McKillop. "Advances in medical sciences have come from many directions but a particular debt is owed to the pharmaceutical industry and I am delighted to welcome two such outstanding scientists to the Academy" said Academy President Professor Peter Lachmann, FRS. |
Chris Dalton
+44 (0) 1625 513031
Emily Denney
+44 (0)20 7304 5034
Steve Brown
+44 (0)20 7304 5033
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- Academy of Medical Sciences
The Academy of Medical Sciences is independent and is the only body representing the interests of the whole spectrum of academic medicine and related medical sciences. It spans not only clinical academic medicine but also veterinary science, dentistry, laboratory science and medical and nursing care. It campaigns for better structures in support of the medical sciences, promotes excellence in research, provides scientific advice, encourages better communication of science and delivers quality services to its Fellowship. The mission of the Academy is to bring together biomedical scientists and clinical academics so that advances in medical science can be made and translated as quickly as possible into benefits for patients.
- AstraZeneca
AstraZeneca is a major international healthcare business engaged in the research, development, manufacture and marketing of prescription pharmaceuticals and the supply of healthcare services. It employs over 10,000 people in R&D in five countries and in 2001 invested $2.7 billion in the activity. It is one of the top five pharmaceutical companies in the world with healthcare sales of over $16.4 billion and leading positions in sales of gastrointestinal, oncology, anaesthesia (including pain management), cardiovascular, central nervous system (CNS) and respiratory products.
- Dr. T.F.W. McKillop
Dr. Thomas (Tom) McKillop was born in Ayrshire, Scotland, in 1943. He gained a first class Honours Degree at the University of Glasgow and a PhD in Chemistry before going on to further studies in France. He joined the ICI Corporate Research Laboratory in 1969 and has pursued a continuous career with ICI Pharmaceuticals, moving to Zeneca Pharmaceuticals following demerger and becoming Executive Director, Zeneca Group plc. Following the merger of Astra and Zeneca, he became Chief Executive of AstraZeneca plc as well as
Non-Executive Director of Lloyds TSB Group plc, Chairman of the British Pharma Group, Pro-Chancellor of Leicester University, Vice-President of the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries Association, and Chairman of the North West (of England) Science Council.
- Dr. B.J.A. Furr
Dr. Barrington (Barry) Furr was born in London in 1943. He gained a B.Sc in chemistry, microbiology and physiological chemistry at the University of Reading, followed by a BSc (special honours) in physiological chemistry and a PhD in reproductive endocrinology. He became a British Egg Marketing Board Fellow at the National Institute for Research in Dairying, then a Wellcome Veterinary Fellow at the University of Reading, before joining ICI Pharmaceuticals in 1972. He pursued a career in scientific research with the company, moving to Zeneca Pharmaceuticals following demerger and becoming Chief Scientist and Head of Project Evaluation for AstraZeneca in 1999, following the merger of Astra and Zeneca. He is author of numerous scientific papers, a member of many professional bodies and has received several honours for his work on the discovery of the cancer drugs 'Zoladex' and 'Casodex' and for services to British endocrinology. In 2000 he became Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to cancer drug discovery. In addition to his global role as Chief Scientist (based at AstraZeneca's Alderley Park R&D site, Cheshire, England), he is Head of the AstraZeneca Research Centre in Bangalore, India that focuses on developing world medicine, particularly on tuberculosis research.
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