In December 2008, Ian Boulton was asked to present on “A Private Sector Perspective” at an Academy of Medical Sciences Conference Global Health Diagnostics: Research, Development, & Regulation. Founded in 1998, the Academy of Medical Sciences is the independent body in the UK that represents the diverse spectrum of medical science – from basic research through clinical application to healthcare delivery. Its mission is to promote medical science and its translation into benefits for society. It is one of the five learned academies in the United Kingdom, alongside the Royal Society, Royal Academy of Engineering, the British Academy, and the Royal Society of Edinburgh.