20 October 2009

Prestigious organisation recognises Dundee scientist

Professor Ron Hay, Principal Investigator at the University of Dundee’s College of Life Sciences, has been elected as a member of one of the world’s most prestigious scientific organisations.

The European Molecular Biology Organisation (EMBO) recognises excellence in molecular life sciences by fostering talented scientists. Since 1964, leading scientists have been elected annually to become EMBO members based on proven excellence in research.

Fifty members have received the Nobel Prize, and Professor Hay is one of a select group of 66 scientists to be elected to membership in 2009. EMBO membership now comprises 1,420 of the world’s foremost molecular biologists, and members contribute scientific expertise to the various programmes coordinated by the group.

Ron Hay is Professor of Molecular Biology at the Wellcome Trust Centre for Gene Regulation and Expression. His work, combining cell, molecular and structural biology, focuses on determining the function of modification in important biological processes.

Recent work examining the treatment of leukaemia has led to new approaches to drug discovery being explored.

Professor Hay’s expressed his delight at receiving such prestigious recognition from his peers, saying 'It is a great honour to be elected to EMBO and extremely gratifying to have the research carried out in my laboratory recognised in this fashion.'

Professor Hay was nominated for EMBO membership by Professor Angus Lamond, Director of the Wellcome Trust Centre for Gene Regulation and Expression.

Professor Lamond said, 'This is a well deserved honour and an excellent example of how Dundee has become a world leading centre for biomedical research that has attracted some of Europe's best scientists to work here.'

Professor Hay was born and educated in Dundee, and received his degree in Biochemistry from Heriot-Watt University. In 1979, he received his PhD from the Medical Research Council Virology Unit in Glasgow, working on viral DNA replication.

A postdoctoral fellowship award allowed him to pursue his research interests at Harvard Medical School before returning to the MRC Virology Unit to establish his own laboratory in 1982.

Three years later, he moved to the University of St. Andrews where he held several positions before taking up the Chair of Molecular Biology, part of the Wellcome Trust Centre for Gene Regulation and Expression, at Dundee in October.

The latest scientists to join EMBO come from 16 different countries and represent a broad cross-section of researchers from all fields of molecular biology, ranging from evolutionary to computational biology, neuroscience and plant science.

'The election once again puts a spotlight on the most outstanding representatives of the current generation of life scientists,' said EMBO Director Hermann Bujard. 'We look forward to the fresh impulses this exceptional group will bring to our organisation.'

Research in Professor Hay’s lab is funded by the BBSRC, CRUK, the European Union and the Wellcome Trust.

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