The 2011 Medal Winner with Maureen Foulkes and Lord Walton of Detchant

Professor Patrick Chinnery FMedSci has been awarded the 2011 Foulkes Foundation Medal.  A Wellcome Trust Senior Clinical Fellow since 2003, Professor Chinnery continues to study the inheritance and expression of mitochondrial disorders both in the clinic and in the molecular laboratory, running several clinical trials in rare genetic diseases. Professor Chinnery was appointed Professor of Neurogenetics in 2004, studying mitochondrial mechanisms in late-onset multi-factorial diseases including stroke and Parkinson’s disease. He became an NIHR Senior Investigator in 2010 and was recently appointed Director of Newcastle University’s Institute of Genetic Medicine. He was elected a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences in 2009.

The 2009 Medal Winner with Maureen Foulkes and Lord Walton of Detchant

The second Medal was awarded in December 2009 at the Annual General Meeting of the Academy of Medical Sciences, who are administering this scheme jointly with the Foundation, to Professor Peter Rothwell, FMedSci, of the Department of Clinical Neurology at the University of Oxford. Prof. Rothwell’s work has revolutionised the treatment of transient ischaemic attacks, or ‘mini-strokes’, and minor stroke. His contribution to medical scientific knowledge during his relatively short research career has been remarkable and there can be few more inspirational demonstrations of the impacts of research on clinical practice. His recent findings on the link between variability in blood pressure and risk of stroke, and the effects of aspirin on risks of cancer and infection, promise to have a similar impact.

Prof. Rothwell is founding Director of the Stroke Prevention Research Unit at the University of Oxford, set up in 2000 and now employing over 30 staff, which is considered to be one of the most successful stroke research groups in the world.

Lancet Press Release: Peter Rothwell December 2010

His research focuses on two projects: TVP 1022 a molecule developed for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, and ACC a novel anticancer component for the treatment of cancer.

The 2007 Medal Winner with Maureen Foulkes and Lord Walton of Detchant

The first Foulkes Foundation Medal was awarded to Professor Robin Ali, FMedSci for his ground breaking research in gene and stem cell therapy, specifically in the development of novel therapies for retinal disorders with an emphasis on translating research into clinical application.