Biomaterials expert elected to US National Academy of Medicine

Professor Molly Stevens has been elected to the US National Academy of Medicine in recognition of her work developing biomaterials-based technologies.

Professor Stevens FREng FRS is Professor of Biomedical Materials and Regenerative Medicine at Imperial College London’s Department of Materials and Bioengineering, with a joint appointment at the University of Oxford.

Our goal is to develop technologies that make a meaningful difference to people’s lives. Professor Molly Stevens Professor of Biomedical Materials and Regenerative Medicine

Professor Stevens was elected for her "exceptional contributions to biomaterials-based approaches to address critical healthcare challenges for tissue regeneration and biosensing, and for biomaterials that elicit specific biological and chemical responses, to investigate this frontier across scales, with significant contributions resulting in a wide range of innovations in regenerative medicine, advanced therapeutics, and disease diagnostics."

Professor Stevens said, "I am deeply honoured to be elected to the National Academy of Medicine. This recognition reflects the creativity and dedication of my students, collaborators, and colleagues. Our goal is to develop technologies that make a meaningful difference to people’s lives."

Building life from materials

Professor Molly Stevens is at the forefront of designing biomaterials that interact with biological systems to promote tissue repair and regeneration. Her research focuses on creating materials that can mimic the natural environment of tissues, facilitating the body's ability to heal itself.

Her team develops biomaterials that influence cell behaviour, highly sensitive biosensors for early disease detection, and technologies that translate fundamental discoveries into regenerative therapies and advanced treatments. A notable innovation from her lab is the development of biodegradable silicon nanoneedles, designed to deliver genetic material into cells to stimulate tissue regeneration and blood vessel growth, demonstrating potential for repairing damaged organs.

Professor Stevens joined Imperial College London in 2004, where she established a highly interdisciplinary research programme that bridges chemistry, materials science, engineering, and medicine. In 2023, she was appointed John Black Professor of Bionanoscience at the University of Oxford, while continuing her collaborations with Imperial.

Her leadership and innovative work have been widely recognised. She has received over 30 awards, including awards such as the Mid-Career Researcher of the Year (2022), the Novo Nordisk Prize (2023), and the Women in Science Award, and the Armourers and Brasiers Company Prize, recognising her international contributions to biomaterials and regenerative medicine. She is also a Fellow of the Royal Society, the Royal Academy of Engineering, and the Royal Society of Chemistry, reflecting her international standing and influence in the field.

International recognition

Founded in 1970, the National Academy of Medicine (NAM) is one of three academies that together form the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine in the United States. Its mission is to improve health for all by advancing scientific knowledge, promoting health equity, and providing independent, trusted advice to policymakers and the public.

Members are elected by their peers in recognition of outstanding achievement and contributions to medical sciences, healthcare, and public health. Only a select number of new members are chosen each year from outside the United States, highlighting the global significance of the recognition.

Professor Nigel Brandon, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, said: "Many congratulations to Professor Stevens on this fantastic recognition of her continued high-impact work in the field of medicine. Election to the National Academy of Medicine demonstrates how Professor Stevens' contributions to the field have achieved international significance and we look forward to supporting her continued work at Imperial and collaborations with colleagues in the United States."