Dundee scientist wins Lister Prize
27 July 2011
Dr Victoria Cowling, of the University of Dundee's College of Life Sciences, has been awarded one of three Lister Research Prizes for 2011 by the Lister Institute of Life Sciences.
The coveted awards are aimed at allowing young scientists to realise their potential with £200,000 of flexible funding over a five year period.
A graduate of Emmanuel College at Cambridge University, Dr Cowling's research work has included periods at London's Cancer Research UK laboratories and Princeton University and Dartmouth College in the United States.
Since moving to the University of Dundee in 2007 her research has focused on how genes that cause cancer affect the first stage of protein production by the body, raising the possibility of developing drugs that destroy cancer cell by blocking this step.
Welcoming the news of her award Dr Cowling said:
"I am very grateful to receive this Lister Fellowship. The funding will allow us to carry out some vital experiments. It's really an award for the whole lab since it was the lab members' hard work which resulted in us receiving it."
Dean of Research at the College of Life Science, Professor Mike Ferguson, added:
"This award is certainly well-deserved; the competition for the Lister Research Prizes is fierce and Vicky is to be congratulated on winning one for her highly innovative approach to fundamental cell biology and biochemistry that is highly relevant to cancer. It is also a recognition of the College’s commitment to supporting excellent early career researchers."
The Lister Institute's unique approach to the funding of researchers, clinicians and non clinicians has no priority diseases or restrictions on research areas. Individual scientists are offered the freedom to develop their research careers within the existing life sciences research community.
Dr Cowling will give a presentation to members of the Lister Institute following the organisations AGM at Christ's College, Cambridge in September.