The latest cohort of Fellows have been recognised for their outstanding contributions to advancing medical science, through discovery research, translational work and the application of scientific knowledge in ways that deliver tangible benefits for patients and the wider public.
Professor Dyfrig Hughes has been elected for his influential work in health technology assessment and medication adherence, which has helped shape healthcare policy across the nations of the UK.
He is one of three new Fellows from Wales, the first elected in four years. The new Fellows are drawn from 28 institutions and represent eight nationalities, with representation from across the UK.
His research on the cost-effectiveness of medicines has directly informed clinical decision-making and NHS policy, while his advisory roles with national and international bodies have helped ensure new medicines are used in ways that are effective, equitable and deliver real value for patients and health systems.
Professor Dyfrig Hughes said: “I am honoured and delighted to have been elected to the Fellowship of the Academy of Medical Sciences. This recognition reflects many years of collaborative work with colleagues, partners and students, whose contributions have been central to advancing research on the optimal use and value of medicines. I look forward to contributing to the Academy’s activities and working with Fellows to further strengthen the evidence base for health policy across the UK and beyond.”
This year’s cohort reflects the Academy’s continued focus on evolving its Fellowship to be diverse, relevant and representative of the biomedical and health research community. Of the 60 new Fellows elected in 2026, 42% are women (25 Fellows) – the highest proportion ever elected in a single year.
The new Fellows are drawn from 28 institutions and represent eight nationalities, with representation from across the UK. The cohort includes three new Fellows from Wales, the first elected in four years, including the first Fellow ever from Bangor University, as well as the first new Fellow elected from Northern Ireland since 2021.
The new intake spans a wide range of sectors, disciplines and research pathways. It includes five new Fellows elected from industry, alongside recognition of expertise in traditionally under‑represented areas such as speech and language therapy, medical ethics, traumatic brain injury and the application of artificial intelligence in healthcare.
The Fellows elected this year join an esteemed Fellowship of over 1,500 researchers who are at the heart of the Academy’s work to nurture scientific talent and shape research and health policy in the UK and worldwide.
