Professor Scott Waddell FMedSci has been elected a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences. All new Fellows are selected by the prestigious National Academy for their exceptional contributions to the advancement of medical science through innovative research discoveries and translating scientific developments into benefits for patients and the wider society.
Professor Waddell has been elected for his furthering understanding of neurobiology, His group has used Drosophila to study neural circuit mechanisms of memory-directed and motivated behaviour since 2001 – their research has demonstrated a previously unforeseen heterogeneity of anatomy and function within the dopaminergic system. The work also exemplifies how acutely altering the function of smaller subsets of neurons can serve as an effective way of learning how neural circuits operate.
Professor Waddell is a founding member of the Centre for Neural Circuits & Behaviour at DPAG, a Wellcome Trust Principal Research Fellow in Basic Biomedical Science, a member of EMBO, and was awarded the 2014 Liliane Bettencourt Prize for the Life Sciences.
On hearing of his election, Professor Waddell said: "I'm totally honoured and thrilled that the work of my group is recognised by my election to the Academy of Medical Sciences. I have been fortunate to work with, and mentor, many brilliant students and postdocs and this would not have happened without them."
Head of Department Professor David Paterson said: "This is a fantastic milestone for Scott and of course a great personal achievement. The Department is always extremely proud when our colleagues get elected to Fellowships of learned Societies."
11 University of Oxford biomedical and health scientists to its fellowship. Read more on the University of Oxford website.
The full announcement of elected Fellows can be found on The Academy of Medical Sciences website.