University of Birmingham Researchers Honoured in Biochemical Society Awards

Dr David Grainger and Dr Anne-Marie Krachler from the Institute of Microbiology and Infection, a cross-college initiative at the University of Birmingham have been honoured in this year’s Biochemical Society’s annual Awards. The Awards recognise scientists for the excellence of their work and the profound impact their research has had on the scientific community and wider society. They also highlight outstanding work by early career researchers.

Dr David Grainger will be awarded The Colworth Medal, a prestigious annual award for outstanding research by a young biochemist, for his research relating to the control of bacterial gene expression by factors that act on a genome-wide scale. David is a molecular microbiologist who has made an internationally recognised contribution to the understanding of the control of bacterial gene transcription and chromosome organisation.

Past recipients include Sir Alec Jeffreys, who pioneered DNA fingerprinting used widely in forensic investigations and paternity tests, and Sir Philip Cohen, who was Britain’s third most-cited professor during the 1990s.

David Said: ‘It’s an amazing honour to have been awarded The Colworth Medal. The list of previous winners is inspirational and a reminder of what my group can achieve in the future. Of course, this award is also a reflection on all the great people I’ve worked with over the years. I’d like to thank them profusely.’

Dr Anne-Marie Krachler will be awarded The Biological Systems Early Career Research Award, which recognises the impact of research carried out by early career scientists. Anne-Marie’s outstanding research, combining classical genetics with biochemical approaches, is providing new understanding of bacterial pathogen virulence mechanisms. She said:

 ‘I am absolutely thrilled to receive this award, and would like to thank my mentors for their past and continuing support. Without them, my group’s research would not have progressed as it has, and I think the best way to thank them will be to try and pay it forward, by fostering my own group member’s careers as they have for mine.’

All of the Award prizes and medal lectureships will take place in 2016 and all lectures will be published in Biochemical Society Transactions.

Find out more about the Institute of Microbiology and Infection: http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/activity/imi/index.aspx

Find out more about the Biochemical Society’s annual Awards: http://www.biochemistry.org/awards.aspx