27 May 2005

Dundee Scientist Receives Highest UK Honour

Professor Colin Watts, an internationally renowned immunologist working in the School of Life Sciences at the University of Dundee, has been elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of London - the UK national academy of science.

Fellowship of the Royal Society is an extremely prestigious award for a scientist, who is elected on his or her scientific excellence. Only 44 people from the United Kingdom and the British Commonwealth are elected each year in all branches of science (Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Astronomy and Geology as well as all biological and medical subjects).

For the past 18 years, Professor Watts has carried out vital research which has contributed to the understanding of how our immune system works and how it sometimes malfunctions, for example in allergic and autoimmune disease.

Arriving in Dundee with a scientific background in cell biology, Colin's interest in immunology developed as he applied novel methods to successfully investigate how foreign pathogens are made visible to the T lymphocytes that control immune responses. This work, along with that from other labs, has provided a detailed picture of how a key part of our immune system works.

On receiving his award, Professor Watts said "I'm delighted that the progress we have made over the years here has been recognised in this way. It's a huge honour and I'm very aware that it would not have happened without the efforts of the outstanding people who have worked with me in the lab here. I'm also very grateful to the support that I’ve received from my long-standing colleagues whose vision and determination has created the fertile environment we have here for research."

Professor Watts is based in the Division of Cell Biology and Immunology in the School of Life Sciences. His laboratory has been located in Dundee since 1986 and is supported by the Wellcome Trust, Medical Research Council, the EU and by collaborations with industry.

Colin joins Philip Cohen, John Raven, Mike Ferguson, David Lilley and Cheryll Tickle, as the 6th member of staff within the School of Life Sciences to receive this prestigious award.

Notes to Editors

The Royal Society is the independent scientific academy of the UK dedicated to promoting excellence in science. It plays an influential role in national and international science policy and supports developments in science engineering and technology in a wide range of ways. It is a charitable body which derives its authoritative status from its 1400 Fellows and Foreign Members.

The Royal Society was founded in 1660 by scientists including Robert Boyle, John Wilkins and Christopher Wren. Since its early history, the Society has elected scientists, engineers and technologists to become members of its Fellowship.

By Angela Durcan, Press Officer 01382 344768, out of hours: 07968298585, a.durcan@dundee.ac.uk