https://doi.org/10.36866/pn.25.40

Following their formal announcement at the 2021 President’s Lecture and Award Ceremony, which was held at The Royal Society in London in November, the Board is delighted to announce our seven 2021 Honorary Fellows of The Society.

Professor Dame Kay Davies, CBE DBE FMedSci FRS

Kay Davies is Professor of Genetics and co-Director of the Muscular Dystrophy UK Oxford Neuromuscular Centre at the University of Oxford, UK. Professor Davies’ research interests lie in the molecular analysis and development of treatments for human genetic diseases. She has published more than 400 papers, won numerous awards for her work and co-founded companies to translate her work to the clinic. In 2008 she was made Dame Commander of the British Empire for services to science.

Professor Maria Fitzgerald, FMedSci FRS

Maria Fitzgerald is Professor of Developmental Neurobiology at University College London, UK. Internationally recognised, her work has had a major impact on our understanding of how pain perception emerges in childhood and how early pain experience can shape pain sensitivity for life. She has received many honours, awards and fellowships.

Professor Christine Holt, FRSB FMedSci FRS

Christine Holt is Professor of Developmental Neuroscience at University of Cambridge, UK, where her laboratory studies how nerve connections are first established in the brain. Holt has been the recipient of numerous grant awards, fellowships and prize medals, including the António Champalimaud Vision Award.

Professor Carla J. Shatz PhD ForMemRS

Carla Shatz is Professor of Biology and Neurobiology at Stanford University, US, where she is also Director of Stanford Bio-X, an interdisciplinary biosciences institute. Professor Shatz’s research aims to understand how early developing brain circuits are transformed into adult connections during critical periods of development. She has received many awards in her career, including the Gerard Prize, the Gruber Prize, the António Champalimaud Vision Award, the Kavli Prize in Neuroscience and the Harvey Prize in Science and Technology.

Professor Fiona Watt FRS FMedSci

Fiona Watt is the Director of the European Molecular Biology Organization having recently stepped down as Executive Chair of the Medical Research Council. She is internationally recognised for her work on stem cells and their interactions with the niche in healthy and diseased skin. Watt has received fellowships from many notable organisations and has been the recipient of many awards throughout her career.

Professor Melanie Welham FRSB

Melanie Welham is Executive Director of Science at the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, the largest public funder of non-medical biological research in the UK – investing around £450 million annually. Prior to taking up this role, Welham was Professor of Molecular Signalling at the University of Bath, UK, where she developed a career as a leading researcher in molecular signalling and stem cell science. She was the first female professor appointed in the 97-year history of her department and served as Co-Director of the University’s Centre for Regenerative Medicine for 4 years.

Rt Hon. Lord David Willetts FRS

David Willetts is the President of the Resolution Foundation, an independent think-tank focused on improving living standards. From 1992 to 2015, Willetts served as the Member of Parliament for Havant and was the Minister for Universities and Science from 2010 to 2014. Willetts is a Visiting Professor at King’s College London, a Board member of UK Research and Innovation and Chair of The Foundation for Science and Technology.

You can find out more about all our Honorary Fellows here.