Professor Steve Williams elected Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences
Professor Steve Williams, Head of the Department for Neuroimaging at King’s College London’s Institute of Psychiatry (IoP) has been elected a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences.
The Fellowships, which recognise excellence in medical research, innovative application of scientific knowledge and service to health care, will be formally awarded at a ceremony on Wednesday 26 June 2013.
Professor Shitij Kapur, Dean and Head of School, King’s IoP said: "I would like to congratulate Steve on behalf of all his colleagues at the IoP – he has been a pioneer in bringing imaging to the IoP, and thereby leading the development of psychiatric neuroimaging in UK and Europe. He is one of the most highly cited scientists in this area and we are delighted that he is being so recognized."
Professor Williams’ work focuses on the translation of imaging techniques from bench to bedside with an emphasis on the development of new tools for diagnosis and prediction of response to treatment. He was the University of Cambridge’s first PhD in Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and he then went on to set up a University of London-wide Intercollegiate Imaging facility which focused on the development and application of magnetic resonance techniques in a wide range of pre-clinical models of disease. In 1994, he moved to the Institute of Psychiatry to champion the application of neuroimaging in disorders of the central nervous system and has co-authored over 400 papers in leading neuroscience journals.
Professor Williams is the founding Director of the Centre for Neuroimaging Sciences, a collaboration between King’s and the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM). Completed in 2004, the Centre provides an interdisciplinary research environment that combines the development of contemporary, high resolution structural, function and metabolic mapping techniques, with expertise in the definition, diagnosis and treatment of neurological and psychiatric disorders. Research projects at the Centre span neurodegeneration, epilepsy, stroke, psychosis, affective disorders, developmental disorders, and normal brain function.
The overall long-term objective of the Centre is to translate on-going pre-clinical developments in neuroimaging to the clinic, improving diagnosis and treatment of disorders.
Professor Steve Williams says: “I am rather surprised but extremely honoured to receive this award which recognizes the value of our scientific research in the field of brain imaging. I thank my numerous colleagues and collaborators who continue to join me on this exciting journey”.
Five academics at King’s were elected as Fellows: Professor Irene Higginson, Professor Frank Nestle, Professor Timothy Vyse and Professor Tony Ng from the School of Medicine, as well as Professor Steve Williams.
Professor Sir Robert Lechler, Vice-Principal (Health) at King’s College London and Executive Director, King’s Health Partners said: ‘I am delighted that the Academy has recognised the talent that we have here at King’s and pass on my warmest congratulations to colleagues. The Academy includes the UK’s leading medical scientists and these new fellowships are recognition of the contribution of these individuals to cutting edge science and its translation into health benefits for society.’
The expertise of the 44 new Fellows spans pharmacology, cell biology, biomedical engineering, childhood cancers, suicide prevention and international health.
For further information, please contact Seil Collins, Press Officer, King’s College London, Institute of Psychiatry. Tel: (+44) 0207 848 5377 Email:seil.collins@kcl.ac.uk