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UCL scientists honoured with Royal Society awards

23 August 2010

Links:

johnwood ucl.ac.uk/cancer/" target="_self">UCL Cancer Institute
  • UCL Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience
  • UCL Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research
  • The Royal Society
  • The Wolfson Foundation
  • UCL Awards and Appointments

    • The Royal Society, the UK's national academy of science, has appointed three UCL scientists among their new Wolfson Research Merit Award holders, the largest number from any university.

    • Professor Stephan Beck (UCL Cancer Institute) has been awarded a Wolfson Research Merit award for his work on developing an integrated (epi)genomic approach to common disease.
    • Professor Vincent Walsh (UCL Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience) received the award for his work on exploring behavioural plasticity in learning, ageing and sleep.
    • Professor John Wood FRS (UCL Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research) gained a Merit Award for his research in the field of voltage-gated sodium channels and pain pathways.

    Stephen Beck

    dr vincent walsh

    Professor Wood said: "Our research group use mouse and human genetics to understand more about pain pathways, focusing on molecular targets that may prove useful for the development of analgesic drugs. The award is welcome recognition of the significance of research at UCL that, over the past 15 years, has led to new approaches to tackling the vast problem of chronic pain."

    Professor Beck explained: "I am delighted and grateful for this award in support of our research into integrated (epi)genomic approaches to common diseases, including cancer. In particular, we are interested in factors acting at the interface between genetics, disease and the environment that hold great promise for regenerative and personalised medicine."

    Professor Walsh noted: "It's particularly rewarding to be encouraged to step into new conceptual areas. Science funding and scientists reviewing are conservative forces usually rewarding one for doing more of the same. The Royal Society has the flexibility to encourage risk taking and I'll be doing all I can to extend my work into adult plasticity."

    Images from top: Professor John Wood, Professor Vincent Walsh, Professor Stephan Beck.