Professor Fran Platt elected as a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences
Four leading medical researchers at Oxford University have been elected Fellows of the Academy of Medical Sciences. Professors Frances Platt, Paul Bolem, Andrew King and Doug Altman are among 40 new Fellows announced today by the Academy. The honour recognises outstanding contributions to the advancement of medical science, innovative application of scientific knowledge or conspicuous service to healthcare.
Professor Fran Platt's research focuses on understanding and treating lysosomal storage diseases, a group of over 50 inherited metabolic diseases thay typically cause neurodegeneration in infants and young children.
She and her colleagues pioneered a novel approach to treat these inherited metabolic diseases that has led directly to the development of an approved drug (miglustat) for type 1 Gaucher disease. Miglustat has more recently (2009) been approved in Europe for use in Niemann-Pick disease type C1 patients. A major current focus of her laboratory is Niemann-Pick type C disease; with ongoing studies on disease mechanisms, the pathogenic cascade, biomarker identification and evaluation of potential therapies in a mouse model of this disorder.
Professor Sir John Bell, President of the Academy of Medical Sciences said: 'These new Fellows demonstrate the amazing talent present in the UK biomedical community. Thanks to these exceptional individuals the UK is home to some of the best medical science in the world. I am delighted that the Academy can recognise the vital role each one of them has played in delivering health and wealth benefits to the UK and beyond. Their work has ensured scientific discoveries make rapid progress from the laboratory bench to the patient's bedside and I look forward to working with them.
