28 July 2004

International Prize for Colon Cancer Scientist

In recognition of her exceptional scientific contribution to cell biology, a cancer scientist at the University of Dundee, Dr Inke Näthke has been named the 2004 Women in Cell Biology junior award winner as chosen by the American Society for Cell Biology (ASCB).

The Women in Cell Biology (WICB) committee of the ASCB recognises outstanding achievements in cell biology by presenting a Junior and Senior Career Recognition Award annually.

Nominated by her peers, the 2004 Junior Award has been made to Dr Inke Näthke.

The Junior Award is given to scientists during the early stage of their career who have made exceptional scientific contributions to cell biology and exhibit the potential for continuing a high level of scientific endeavor while fostering the career development of young scientists.

The award will be presented to Dr Näthke at the ASCB’s 44th Annual Meeting to be held in Washington DC in December 2004.

A Principal Investigator in the Division of Cell and Developmental Biology in the School of Life Sciences, Dr Inke Näthke recently received £1.2 million from Cancer Research UK to investigate the function of the Adenomatous Polyposis Coli (APC) gene to understand how mutations in this gene initiate colon cancer tumours.

Dr Näthke said: "I am extremely honored by this award. Not only because it provides recognition for my scientific contributions, but also because it confirms the personal support from the scientific community in general. In doing research we do not always emphasise successes other than those that directly relate to our experiments and the impacts they may make scientifically. This particular award is unusual because it also recognises the importance of supporting others, in particular the people you supervise."

Notes to Editors

Mutations in a single gene, Adenomatous Polyposis Coli (APC), are responsible for some people being at risk of certain forms of inherited colon cancer; but, importantly, they are common to most non-inherited colonic tumours and these mutations occur early in the disease.

Mutations in the APC gene lead to defects in a number of cellular processes that are important for normal maintenance of tissue in the colon. Inke's research team aims to understand the role of APC in how cells move, divide and differentiate. One of the goals is to use a range of experimental approaches to determine the relationship between the different functions of APC.

Understanding the changes in the colon that result from APC mutations will enable the team to identify the function(s) of APC that are important to restore when lost due to mutation and this will ultimately lead to improved clinical treatments for patients.

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