18 June 2007

Lister Research Prize lecture

*** Photo opportunity: 3.45 pm, Tuesday June 19th
Wellcome Trust Building, University of Dundee

A young Professor at the University of Dundee will be presented with one of the UK’s leading research awards in the life sciences on Tuesday June 19th.

Professor Daan van Aalten (36) is one of only three scientists in the UK this year to be awarded a prestigious Lister Research Prize, which is made to young scientists to help them pursue their personal research interests in biomedical sciences.

The prize was established in 2004 by the Lister Institute for Preventive Medicine. It 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.

The award of the prize is made at a special lecture given by the recipient at their home institution. Professor van Aalten, a Principal Investigator in the Division of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Microbiology in the College of Life Sciences, will give his lecture on Tuesday to an audience of invited guests and colleagues, including Dame Bridget Ogilvie, Chairman of the Lister Institute, and Dr Trevor Hince, the Institute's Director, who will make the presentation of the prize.

Professor van Aalten and his group are involved in the study of protein and carbohydrate interactions which are involved in processes such as microbial cell wall synthesis/recognition, cell signalling pathways and the human immune system. The team’s research is ultimately aimed at developing medicines to help treat human 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 unusual 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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