The Academy of Medical Sciences is the United Kingdom's national academy of medical sciences. It was established in 1998 on the recommendation of a group that was chaired by Michael Atiyah. Its president is John Irving Bell. The Academy promotes advances in medical science and campaigns to ensure these are converted into healthcare benefits for society. Its mission is to ensure better healthcare through the rapid application of research to the practice of medicine. This is achieved by providing expert, evidenced based information and advice on the latest developments in medical science, supporting the development of a first class medical science workforce and championing the UK's research strengths in academia, in the NHS and in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries.