Gold medal for cell signal research

Professor Dario Alessi of the MRC (Medical Research Council) Protein Phosphorylation Unit at the School of Life Sciences has been named the 2005 winner of the prestigious EMBO Gold Medal.

The EMBO Gold Medal is presented annually to a young European researcher for outstanding contributions to life sciences research. Recipients are also honoured as role models for other young scientists in Europe.

Dario received the award in recognition of his landmark work in cell signalling. His pioneering research on enzymes called 'kinases' and their role in inherited disease has provided exciting new insights into conditions such as diabetes, cancer and hypertension.

Professor Alessi, who completed his PhD only 14 years ago, is the first researcher in Scotland to win the award.

EMBO Executive Director, Frank Gannon, described Professor Alessi as an "exemplary role model" for other young researchers.

"His work has had a tremendous international impact and this is all the more remarkable when you consider his publication approach, which steers away from high impact journals. To do this and still achieve such an impact on biomedical research is the mark of a truly exceptional scientist."

The true extent of this impact was demonstrated recently in data published by the Institute for Scientific Information (ISI). The ISI Essential Science Indicators placed Alessi as the world's 13th most cited scientist in the fields of biology and biochemistry from January 1995 to August 2005 - a remarkable achievement for such a young researcher.