MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology
One of the world's leading research institutes, our scientists are working to advance understanding of biological processes at the molecular level - providing the knowledge needed to solve key problems in human health.
A jewellery heirloom has been passed to Sarah Teichmann on International Women’s Day to mark her major contribution to science. Sarah, from the LMB’s Structural Studies Division, was nominated by last year’s awardee, Janet Thornton from the European Bioinformatics Institute. Sarah is one of a number of leading life scientists and communicators to be recognised in this way through an initiative pioneered by the MRC Clinical Sciences Centre.
Angelika Amon, who is Professor of Biology at the David Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), will give the 2012 Francis Crick Lecture on Wednesday 15th February at 4.15pm in the LMB’s Max Perutz Lecture Theatre. The lecture is open to anyone in the local area who is interested in attending.
Angelika graduated in biology from the University of Vienna, and also completed her PhD there.
Hugh Pelham, Director of the LMB, recently presented Joy Worship, Manager of Acorn House, The Sick Children’s Trust, with a cheque for £1496.30, which was raised at the LMB’s annual Christmas Charity Raffle. Joy was delighted with the gift and said that the contribution would go towards the £68,000 annual running costs of Acorn House, which is funded solely by voluntary donations.
Sean Munro, group leader in the LMB’s Cell Biology Division, has been elected as a Fellow of The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). Election as a Fellow of AAAS is an honour bestowed upon members by their peers. Fellows are recognized for meritorious efforts to advance science or its applications.
Founded in 1848, AAAS serves some 272 affiliated societies and academies of science and publishes the peer-reviewed general science journal Science.
Dr Venki Ramakrishnan, Joint Head of the LMB’s Structural Studies Division, has been honoured with a knighthood in the New Year Honours List 2012. The award is for services to molecular biology.
Venki’s research focuses on the structure and function of the ribosome. This complex structure, found in multiple copies in every living cell, translates the DNA code into life, producing tens of thousands of different proteins that in turn control the chemistry in all living organisms.
Christian Münch, a postgraduate student working in Anne Bertolotti’s group in the LMB’s Division of Neurobiology has been awarded the 2011 British Neuroscience Association (BNA) Postgraduate Award. This is awarded annually to one student considered to have made a significant contribution to neuroscience and to have achieved an outstanding performance in their viva voce.
The focus of Christian’s PhD studies has been the protein superoxide dismutase-1 (SOD1).