The Institute Of Cancer Research Is Honoured As Three Of Its Scientists Are Elected As Fellows Of The Royal Society

Main Category: Cancer / Oncology
Article Date: 19 May 2008 - 3:00 PDT

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Three scientists at The Institute of Cancer Research have been elected as Fellows of the Royal Society. The new appointments take The Institute's total number of Fellows to six, the highest ever at any one time. Election to the Royal Society is the greatest honour that can be bestowed on a British Scientist.

Professor Peter Rigby, Chief Executive of The Institute, said: "This is marvellous news for The Institute, I congratulate my colleagues on their achievement. We are proud that our work in the field of cancer research has been commended. A total of six Fellows of the Royal Society confirms our status as a world leader in cancer research."

The Royal Society is the national academy of science of the UK and Commonwealth, and election to its Fellowship honours outstanding scientific contributions. 44 new Fellows are elected each year and this year the field of cancer research is strongly represented among them.

Professor Alan Ashworth, Director of the Breakthrough Breast Cancer Research Centre at The Institute, was elected for his contributions to the understanding of mammalian genetics. His work includes research into the ways defects in some genes lead to cancer and how this information can be used to develop new treatments.

Professor Michael Stratton, Professor of Cancer Genetics in the Section of Cancer Genetics, received recognition for his work identifying cancer genes and analysis of the human genome in cancer cells.

Professor Laurence Pearl, Professor of Protein Crystallography and Co-Chairman of the Section of Structural Biology, was a made a Fellow in recognition of his contributions to understanding the three-dimensional structures and biochemical mechanisms of proteins involved in cell maintenance and regulation, and exploiting this for the development of new cancer therapeutics.

About The Institute of Cancer Research

The Institute of Cancer Research is Europe's leading cancer research centre with expert scientists working on cutting edge research. It was founded in 1909 to carry out research into the causes of cancer and to develop new strategies for its prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care.

The Institute of Cancer Research