Page 49 - Eclipse - Autumn/Winter 2023
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MOVERS AND SHAKERS
The RVC’s Professor Joanne Webster
awarded Royal Society medal
oanne Webster FMedSci, grouping, is Director of the London Professor Webster is also a member
RVC Professor of Parasitic Centre for Neglected Tropical Disease of the Board of Trustees of Fauna
Diseases, has been awarded Research (LCNTDR) and is Professor and Flora International, an Expert
Ja Royal Society Medal, The of Infectious Diseases at Imperial Advisor on a number of the World
Leeuwenhoek Medal and Lecture. College London’s Faculty of Medicine. Health Organization’s panels and is
This recognises and celebrates During her career, Professor Webster a Fellow of both the Royal Society
outstanding contributions to science, has also served as the co-Director of Biology and the Academy of
such as Professor Webster’s of the Schistosomiasis Control Medical Sciences. Alongside this,
‘achievements in advancing control Initiative (SCI). During this period Professor Webster sits on several
of disease in humans and animals (2003-2014), the organisation funding review board committees
which are caused by parasites in provided approximately 300 and expert panel groups, including
Asia and Africa’. for the Biotechnology and Biological
million anthelminthic preventative
The Royal Society, founded in 1660, chemotherapeutic treatments for Sciences Research Council and
is the oldest existing scientific children and at-risk adults across Wellcome Trust.
academy in the world. Professor sub-Saharan Africa. Professor Oliver Pybus, Vice-Principal
Webster will be only the second Professor Webster then joined the for Research and Innovation at the
female to receive this medal since RVC as Chair in Parasitic Diseases, RVC, commented: “We, at RVC,
its own inauguration in 1950. are incredibly proud of Professor
which further expanded her One
Alongside her role as Professor Health research and disease control Webster’s achievements in infectious
disease research. The Royal Society’s
of Parasitic Diseases, Professor activities, encompassing both human prestigious Leeuwenhoek Medal is
Webster heads the RVC’s Pathogen and animal tropical medicine. well deserved recognition for her
Flow in Ecosystems strategic
significant contributions to the field.”
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