Outstanding endeavours recognised by 2025 RSE Medals
Academics have been celebrated for their outstanding achievements at an RSE Medals Ceremony this week.
Ten individuals from diverse disciplines, including medicine, disease research, marine biology, law, astrophysics, and machine learning, attended a reception at the RSE on George Street to receive their awards.
They were joined by the team of the Leverhulme Research Centre for Forensic Science at the University of Dundee, as they were collectively awarded the Mary Somerville Medal.
The RSE’s medals are nominated by RSE Fellows and awarded to individuals to recognise their exceptional contributions and achievements to their field. These medallists impact lives all over the world and highlights the talent that exists in Scotland’s research sector.
Honouring remarkable individual and group research achievements, Professor Anne Anderson, RSE Vice-President of Research, presented the medals, with Professor Dr Alison Hulme FRSE, reading the citations.
Professor Anne Anderson commented,
“The RSE’s prestigious medals, which are nominated by RSE Fellows, are awarded to recognise truly outstanding accomplishments. Representing a range of fields, this year’s medallists join a remarkable group of pioneers whose work advances our knowledge and helps to improve lives all over the world. Their achievements highlight the depth and breadth of Scotland’s research talent. I congratulate them all.”
The 2025 RSE medallists are:
RSE Lord Kelvin Medal
Professor Jonathan Cooper
Wolfson Chair of Biomedical Engineering, University of Glasgow
The RSE Lord Kelvin Medal is awarded to Professor Jonathan Cooper, Wolfson Chair of Biomedical Engineering, University of Glasgow, for his original contribution to research and innovation in disease diagnostics, exemplified by his publications in top journals and his portfolio of IP and spin-out companies, and commitment to delivering low-cost solutions for diagnostics and monitoring of diseases in East Africa. Professor Cooper also has an outstanding record of mentoring early-career researchers, especially towards successful fellowships, and advocacy through significant public engagement and educational outreach.
Professor Jonathan Cooper said, “It is a great honour to receive the RSE Lord Kelvin Medal. In doing so, it gives me the opportunity to recognise the many contributions to my research that have been made by my students, colleagues, collaborators and mentors, past and present. Working at the interface between engineering and medicine requires inputs from many individuals and teams, and this award is a testament to a collective pursuit of knowledge, innovation and impact. The legacy of Lord Kelvin, not just in basic science, but also in instrumentation, makes this award particularly meaningful – in recognition of our work in measuring and recording changes in the prevalence of disease in humans and animals. I am truly grateful to the Society and the selection committee for this medal.”
RSE Sir James Black Medal
Professor Andrew Baker
BHF Professor of Translational Cardiovascular Sciences and Gustav Born Chair of Vascular Biology, University of Edinburgh
The RSE Sir James Black Medal is awarded to Professor Andrew Baker, BHF Professor of Translational Cardiovascular Sciences and Gustav Born Chair of Vascular Biology at the University of Edinburgh. Professor Baker is a leading figure in cardiovascular research, renowned for his transformative contributions to gene therapy, regenerative medicine, and the treatment of heart disease. His pioneering work on vascular regeneration and innovative therapies has the potential to revolutionise how cardiovascular conditions are treated. With substantial research funding and leadership of high-impact translation research, Professor Baker is at the forefront of amplifying the impact of advanced medical science research through his ability to translate cutting-edge basic science into clinical solutions.
Professor Andrew Baker said, “I am humbled to accept this award that reflects upon the excellent work of my team and collaborators over many years. These strategies have enabled us to collectively develop novel therapeutics to treat patients with cardiovascular diseases, where unmet clinical need remains a major healthcare burden. I would like to thank the British Heart Foundation, Medical Research Council and the European Union for the funding that has allowed me to bridge fundamental discovery science to the clinic. Especially important have been the wonderful environments that allowed my research to flourish at both the University of Glasgow and, more recently, at the University of Edinburgh.”
RSE Sir James Black Medal
Professor Stuart Ralston
Versus Arthritis Professor of Rheumatology, University of Edinburgh
The RSE Sir James Black Medal is awarded to Professor Stuart Ralston, Versus Arthritis Professor of Rheumatology, University of Edinburgh. Professor Ralston’s research in bone and joint disease has benefited patients and influenced policy. His contributions to medical education have reached thousands of students globally. His national role in regulating medicine safety for over a decade, exemplified by the emergency approval of COVID-19 vaccines by the MHRA committee that he chaired, has saved many lives. Professor Ralston has demonstrated exceptional insights, innovation, achievements and impacts nationally and internationally.
Professor Stuart Ralston said, “I am honoured to accept this award on behalf of my current research team at the University of Edinburgh and other collaborators that I’ve worked with over the past four decades. I would like to acknowledge the funding I’ve received from Versus Arthritis, the NIHR, the European Research Council and the Royal Osteoporosis Society, which has supported the programmes of research that I have been involved with to gain a greater understanding of the causes of bone disease and to optimise treatment strategies. I’ve also been fortunate to contribute to medical education worldwide as an author and editor of Davidson’s Principles and Practice of Medicine and to have played a role in Medicines Regulation in the UK as Chair of the Commission for Human Medicines between 2013 and 2021, during which time the Commission provided advice to the MHRA on the licensing of COVID vaccines.”
RSE Adam Smith Medal
Professor Marcel Jaspars
Professor of Organic Chemistry, University of Aberdeen
The RSE Adam Smith Medal is awarded to Professor Marcel Jaspars, Professor of Organic Chemistry, University of Aberdeen, for his world-leading and impactful expertise in marine biodiscovery. Academically, his work in biochemistry and possible applications for drug discovery had a huge impact. He has also influenced science policy debates at the UN level on marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdictions (BBNJ Treaty) and the ongoing international negotiations on digital sequence information (DSI), which is a crucial tool for equitable benefit sharing in the use of genetic resources.
Professor Marcel Jaspars said, “I am delighted to have been awarded the RSE’s Adam Smith Medal in recognition of my work translating the science of marine biodiscovery into policy. I am hopeful that a scientifically literate policy to protect the biodiversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction will protect the Ocean and benefit marine scientific research. The deep ocean is a remarkable place, full of unexplored biology and chemistry which deserves our protection in its own right, as well as for its potential to enable the discovery of new medicines and other products.”
RSE Sir Walter Scott Medal
Professor Robert Dunbar
Professor of Celtic, University of Edinburgh
The RSE Sir Walter Scott Medal is awarded to Professor Robert Dunbar, Professor of Celtic, University of Edinburgh, for his international role in furthering policies relating to the promotion and legal protection of minority languages, his prominent and long-standing contribution to the support and development of Scottish Gaelic language and policy in this country and high-quality research in the area of Gaelic literature and culture generally. Through his policy work, teaching and research, he leads on key initiatives relating to the future of Gaelic. His high-profile international advisory roles mark him out as an expert voice in the field, working to ensure governments across Europe preserve the languages of their minorities.
Professor Robert Dunbar said, “I am deeply honoured to have been awarded the RSE Sir Walter Scott Medal. I am most grateful to the RSE for this recognition, not only of my own work but of the importance of the Gaelic language and culture, and of linguistic and cultural diversity more generally, both in Scotland and in Europe. Like many in my field, I have sought to combine scholarship and teaching with wider engagement, in my case with the public policy process, both here in Scotland and abroad, particularly through the Council of Europe. My efforts would not have been possible without the outstanding work of many others, both within and outside academia, from whom I have learned and with whom I have engaged and collaborated. My work would also not have been possible without the support of my university colleagues and the love and support of friends and family. For this, I am also profoundly grateful.”
RSE Dame Muriel Spark Medal
Dr Catriona (Katy) McMillan
Reader in Medical Law and Ethics, University of Edinburgh
The RSE Dame Muriel Spark Medal is awarded to Dr Catriona (Katy) McMillan, Reader in Medical Law and Ethics, University of Edinburgh, for her pioneering research in medical law and ethics, and specifically in the field of ‘femtech’. Dr McMillan now works on the legal regulation and ethical issues relating to the growing field of products and services that support women’s health and wellness. Her work is interdisciplinary with broad academic engagement, but it also engages public interest. She is an innovative research leader with an exceptional publication record, who, in parallel, is having a remarkable early-stage ‘impact’ in the world in the widest sense.
Dr McMillan said, “It is a profound honour to be awarded the RSE Dame Muriel Spark Medal, named after an exceptional author whose unique exploration of independence and individualism in women, often in an accessible and light-hearted way, has had a lasting impact on so many. I am also immensely grateful for the support of my colleagues at Edinburgh Law School and beyond, without whom this achievement would not have been possible.”
RSE June Almeida Medal
Mr Eamon Keane
Senior Lecturer in Evidence and Criminal Procedure, University of Glasgow
The RSE June Almeida Medal is awarded to Mr Eamon Keane, Senior Lecturer in Evidence and Criminal Procedure, University of Glasgow, for his work in improving legal responses to sexual violence, both in the provision of support to complainants in sexual offence cases and in influencing law reform. Mr Keane is Principal Solicitor of the Emma Ritch Law Clinic, which provides free legal services to survivors of sexual violence. He has carried out a series of research projects related to the prosecution of sexual offences, including a 2020 report that proposed independent legal representation for complainants in sexual offence cases and informed the development of the Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Act 2025.
Mr Keane said, “I am truly honoured to receive the RSE June Almeida Medal. My work as both an academic and a practising solicitor has been supported by far too many generous colleagues over the years to mention. I want to acknowledge that much of my work is only possible due to the bravery and fortitude of victims/survivors of sexual offences themselves. As a lawyer, it’s my privilege to be able to use the law to try and give a sense of agency to those so often robbed of it. I am very grateful to the Royal Society of Edinburgh for acknowledging my work.”
RSE Dame Anne McLaren Medal
Dr Ralitsa Madsen
Principal Investigator, Round 8 Future Leaders Fellow, University of Dundee
The RSE Dame Anne McLaren Medal is awarded to Dr Ralitsa Madsen, Principal Investigator, Round 8 Future Leaders Fellow, University of Dundee, for her advancing knowledge in the quantitative understanding of the growth-promoting phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) signalling pathway, and her endeavour of making knowledge accessible and useful through public and patient involvement in research activities. Beyond her formal appointment to serve on the UK Committee on Research Integrity, Dr Madsen is also an internationally recognised figure in Open Science and research integrity, advocating for the latter as a driver for research excellence.
Dr Ralitsa Madsen said, “It is a tremendous honour to be awarded the RSE Dame Anne McLaren Medal 2025. This recognition would not have been possible without the support of my mentors, students and family along the way – I am deeply grateful to them all. I hope this recognition will also inspire many other early-career researchers to pursue science with passion, integrity, and a commitment to public benefit. For me personally, it is a huge motivation to keep pursuing my mission to crack the quantitative and highly context-dependent PI3K signalling “code” in health and disease.”
RSE Lady Margaret Moir Medal
Dr Christopher Berry
Senior Lecturer in Physics and Astronomy, University of Glasgow
The RSE Lady Margaret Moir Medal is awarded to Dr Christopher Berry, Senior Lecturer in Physics & Astronomy, University of Glasgow. Dr Berry has demonstrated the breadth and depth of his research on data analysis and astrophysics of gravitational wave sources. His commitment to public outreach and science communication, his leadership and service for the gravitational wave community in Scotland, the UK and internationally, and his mentorship of students have proven Dr Berry a deserving recipient of this medal.
Dr Christopher Berry said, “I am delighted to be recognised with this award. I am fortunate to be working in gravitational wave astronomy, as we are making such exciting discoveries—breakthroughs that are only possible thanks to the collaboration of many dedicated scientists across the world, and the vision of science councils willing to invest over many decades. It has been wonderfully exciting to make these first observations of coalescing black holes and neutron stars, and I am looking forward to many more discoveries to come as we continue to search.”
RSE Lady Margaret Moir Medal
Dr Audrey Repetti
Associate Professor at Heriot-Watt University
The RSE Lady Margaret Moir Medal is awarded to Dr Audrey Repetti, Associate Professor at Heriot-Watt University, for her contributions to non-convex optimisation and machine learning theory for computational imaging, leading to the creation of algorithmic structures and hypothesis testing tools that have had a far-reaching impact in medical and astronomical imaging.
Dr Audrey Repetti said, “I am very grateful to the RSE for this recognition. Mathematical imaging is an interdisciplinary field that offers a wonderful playground for evolving from theory to applications. I have been very lucky to meet and work with great people in the last decade, familiarising me with real-world imaging challenges as a mathematician, and motivating me to build tailored optimisation and machine learning methods.”
RSE Mary Somerville Medal
Leverhulme Research Centre for Forensic Science
The RSE Mary Somerville Medal is awarded to the Leverhulme Research Centre for Forensic Science for their collaborative endeavour to develop trusted relationships between practitioners across the justice system and members of the public through ongoing public engagement and science communication. The team is nationally and internationally renowned for its commitment to creating new interdisciplinary approaches addressing the long-term challenges in the relationship between science and law. Their open and collaborative research has effectively achieved purposeful and useful outcomes that create long-lasting positive impacts.
Director of the Leverhulme Research Centre for Forensic Science, Professor Niamh Nic Daeid FRSE, said: “I am enormously proud that the Leverhulme Research Centre for Forensic Science has been selected to receive this award, and it is a testament to the continuous and exceptional achievements of all of the LRCFS staff and researchers.