A University of Sheffield professor from the School of Medicine and Population Health has been elected as a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences and a Fellow of the International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.
Jim Wild, Professor of Magnetic Resonance Physics, was elected as Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences in recognition of his contribution to biomedical and health research in imaging.
He is one of 58 biomedical and health scientists elected to the Academy this year.
The Academy of Medical Sciences is the independent, expert body representing the diversity of medical science in the UK. Its mission is to advance biomedical and health research and its translation into benefits for society. The Academy's elected Fellows are the most influential scientists in the UK and worldwide, drawn from the NHS, academia, industry and the public service.
Jim has also been elected a fellow of the International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine (ISMRM) for outstanding achievements in MRI of the lung by introducing novel hyperpolarized gas MRI methods into clinical practice.
The International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine (ISMRM) is a nonprofit professional association dedicated to promoting communication, research, development and application of magnetic resonance techniques in medicine and biology.
Jim said: “It’s an honour to be elected as a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences and it is brilliant that our research in the field of hyperpolarised gas and proton MRI methods has received this recognition, not only from the academy but also from the International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine, my research community. I want to recognise the contribution of amazing colleagues at the University of Sheffield over the years who have worked towards these common goals and thank them for their support.”
Professor Ashley Blom Vice President and Head of the Faculty of Health, said: “We are extremely proud of Jim, who richly deserves this recognition of his excellent contribution to Medical Science, and of the impact his work has on the lives of patients with lung disease in South Yorkshire and beyond.”
Professor Andrew Morris PMedSci, President of the Academy of Medical Sciences, said: “It is an honour to welcome these brilliant minds to our Fellowship. Our new Fellows lead pioneering work in biomedical research and are driving remarkable improvements in healthcare. We look forward to working with them, and learning from them, in our quest to foster an open and progressive research environment that improves the health of people everywhere through excellence in medical science."
Professor Wild is a Magnetic Resonance Physicist/Engineer who develops novel diagnostic technologies and translates them for patient benefit, working closely with clinicians and industrial collaborators. He has been based in the Faculty of Health at the University of Sheffield for over 20 years. He is also the Executive Director of the Insigneo Institute and leads the Pulmonary, Lung and Respiratory Imagining Sheffield (POLARIS) research group.
Jim’s research has pioneered the development and clinical translation of novel hyperpolarised gas and proton MRI methods for the assessment of lung disease. His underpinning technological research includes: world-leading (regulatory approved) hardware for hyperpolarizing xenon, RF coil hardware and MRI scanner software for functional and structural MRI of lungs and brain, and in silico computational models of lung physiology.
He has established the role of pulmonary MRI in the diagnosis and treatment of multiple respiratory and pulmonary vascular diseases including: Asthma, COPD, Cystic Fibrosis, Interstitial Lung Disease, Lung cancer and Pulmonary Hypertension. The clinical impact of his work is exemplified by the first-in-world translation of hyperpolarised gas MRI technology with MHRA regulatory approval through to clinical practice in partnership with the NHS, which he has led.
