99�Ⱦò������µ�ַ

Hayley Sharpe, a group leader in the Signalling research programme, was awarded tenure and received an ERC Consolidator Grant. The five-year project will focus on uncovering how T cell receptor binding initiates the signalling events that lead to various T cell behaviours. Understanding this mechanism is important for T cell-based therapies in cancer as well as extending our understanding of cell-cell communication more widely.

Martin Turner, Head of the Immunology programme, received a Wellcome Discovery Award to study T cell regulation by RNA binding proteins. The funding will support the creation of new research tools and approaches to define the dynamics of protein and RNA interactions, with the aim of providing deeper insight into the molecular regulation of the immune system.

Michelle Linterman, senior group leader in the Immunology programme, joined the GSK Immunology Network to connect the lab’s knowledge about long-lived immunity with GSK’s longstanding interest in understanding how to harness the power of the immune system to improve health. The Network embeds academics in GSK’s UK research and development hub to exchange ideas and expand knowledge.

Jo Durgan, senior research associate in the Signalling research programme and chair of the Green Labs Steering Group, was a runner up in the Green Sustainability Hero award from SOS-UK (Students Organising for Sustainability). Jo was recognised for her dedication in championing sustainability and leadership in spearheading sustainability initiatives on the Babraham Research Campus and within the local community.

Rachael Walker, Head of the Flow Cytometry facility won a Papin Prize for her contribution to knowledge exchange. The Papin Prizes celebrate the achievements of technical staff and recognise the best technical talent across the UK. Rachael’s nomination noted her passion and effort in promoting new flow cytometry technologies and techniques, her leadership in the adoption of full spectrum cytometry and her commitment to flow cytometry training to develop the skills of cytometry users.

Two animal technicians, Jess and Abbie, received the Outstanding Collaborator Award at the 2023 Research Institute Technician Awards (the RITAs) for their achievement in devising and leading the Institute’s first Animal Technician Conference. Since its inception, the event runs annually to bring together animal technicians from the Institute and from research institutions, universities and industry from across the UK.

Continuing the Institute’s history of hosting Royal Society Entrepreneurs in Residence, Louise Jopling joined the Knowledge Exchange and Commercialisation team for two years as our latest Entrepreneur in Residence. Louise brings more than 25 years of experience in drug discovery, development and commercialisation within academia, biotech and pharmaceutical organisations to assist with identifying translational opportunities for our discovery research.

Hanane Hadj-Moussa, a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellow in the Houseley lab, received the Korenchevsky Prize from the British Society for Research on Ageing for the best presentation by an early-career researcher. Hanane spoke about her work identifying ageing mechanisms in yeast and as the prize recipient will speak at the 53rd annual meeting of the American Aging Association in Alaska, USA.

Teruhito Ishikara from the Kelsey lab was awarded a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellowship to study genomic imprinting and the acquisition of differentially methylated regions in mammalian oocytes. This research has the potential not only to advance our understanding of the evolutionary mechanisms of genomic imprinting, but also to provide clues to address why such a phenomenon exists, and has evolved, only in marsupial and eutherian mammals.

Theresa Pankhurst, Te Urungi Churchill College By-Fellow in the Linterman lab, was awarded a Kia Niwha Leader Fellowship from the Te Niwha Infectious Diseases Research Platform which provides access to an intensive 12-month leadership programme. The aims of the programme are to develop and equip researchers working in infectious disease with the ability to operate as research leaders in ways that align with the Te Niwha framework of integrity and accountability, relationships, ability to partner for impact, and leadership.

Knowledge Exchange and Commercialisation Officer, Maha Ashraf, was awarded a Knowledge Transfer Innovation Fellowship at LifeArc, a self-funded, not-for-profit medical research organisation that aims to turn promising scientific breakthroughs into new test, treatments and devices for patients. The year long programme provides fellows with the skills and knowledge to transition into careers in technology transfer through a curriculum that combines formal training with networking, mentoring and practical experience in the field.

Alyssa Silva-Cayetano, a former postdoc in the Linterman lab, was awarded the 2024 Sir Michael Berridge Prize by the Institute for her leading contribution to the research described in the paper: Spatial dysregulation of T follicular helper cells impairs vaccine responses in aging. This work uncovered key changes to germinal centres that occur with age and lessen the immune response to vaccination.