25 September 2006

Dundee Scientist Awarded Lister Research Prize

A leading scientist from the University of Dundee has been awarded a prestigious Lister Research Prize, one of only three awarded in the UK this year.

The award has been made to Professor Daan van Aalten, a Principal Investigator in the Division of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Microbiology in the School of Life Sciences.

The Lister Research Prize was established in 2004 and is made to young scientists to help them pursue their personal research interests in biomedical sciences. The Prize award is accompanied by a three-year grant of £175,000, which can be used for equipment, travel or salaries for scientists in a research team.

Professor van Aalten and his group are involved in the study of protein and carbohydrate interactions which are key to the immune system and linked to diseases such as cancer, diabetes and Alzheimer’s. The team’s research is ultimately aimed at developing medicines to help treat these diseases.

Professor van Aalten said, "I am very delighted to receive the Lister Prize. We will use the Prize to study an unusual sugar modification of human proteins that appears to regulate their function, and that is linked to diseases such as cancer, diabetes and Alzheimer’s."

"This award acknowledges all the hard work and dedication of my team over the years and the funds present an unsual opportunity to follow an exciting new line of research."

Professor van Aalten is the second member of staff within the School of Life Sciences to receive this award, following Dr Tomo Tanaka who received an award in 2005.

The Lister Institute was founded in 1891 and has made distinguished contributions to biomedical science for over a century. The charitable objectives of the Institute are to further understanding and progress in preventive medicine by promoting biomedical excellence in the UK through its support of the biological and biomedical sciences and to ensure long-term public benefit through publication of the knowledge gained and, where appropriate, by encouraging its exploitation.

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