Royal Society award for cancer researcher

Paul Clarke of the University of Dundee's Biomedical Research Centre has been awarded a prestigious Wolfson Research Merit Award from the Royal Society for his work on cancer cell biology.

Since moving to Dundee five years ago, Dr Clarke's research team has made important discoveries about the ways that cancer cells divide out of control and evade a form of cell death called apoptosis. Their work is aimed at discovering new treatments for cancer and is supported by Cancer Research UK and the Medical Research Council.

Commenting on his award, Paul Clarke said "I am very grateful to the Royal Society for its support. This award acknowledges the importance of the work carried out by the dedicated scientists and students in my research team. We have benefited enormously from the superb biomedical research environment in Dundee and, together with our colleagues, we hope to make further discoveries about cancer cells that will help the development of more effective therapies in the future".

The purpose of the Royal Society Wolfson Research Merit Awards is to give institutions additional support to attract to this country or keep here researchers of outstanding achievement and potential. Dr Clarke's award was one of only seven successful nominations and the overall standard of applications according to the President of the Royal Society Lord May of Oxford was "extremely high".

Sir Alan Langlands, Principal of the University of Dundee, said "This award recognises Dr Clarke's exceptional contribution to biomedical research and the understanding of apoptosis. He has my sincere congratulations and best wishes for continued success".

Notes for Editors

The Royal Society is an independent academy promoting the natural and applied sciences. Founded in 1660, the Society has three roles, as the UK academy of science, as a learned Society, and as a funding agency. It responds to individual demand with selection by merit, not by field. The Society's objectives are to:

• strengthen UK science by providing support to excellent individuals
• fund excellent research to push back the frontiers of knowledge
• attract and retain the best scientists
• ensure the UK engages with the best science around the world
• support science communication and education; and communicate and
• encourage dialogue with the public
• provide the best independent advice nationally and internationally
• promote scholarship and encourage research into the history of science

By Jenny Marra, Head of Press 01382 344910, out of hours: 07968298585, j.m.marra@dundee.ac.uk