Explore the 2023-2024 Review

Awards, fellowships and achievements in 2023 and 2024
Hayley

ERC Consolidator Grant

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

Wellcome Discovery Award

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.

Dr Michelle Linterman

GSK Immunology Network

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.

Dr Jo Durgan

Green Sustainability Hero Award

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, Babraham Institute. Credit Alex Wilkinson Media

Papin Prize

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.

White mouse in a Perspex tube, held in gloved hands by an animal technician

Outstanding Collaborator Award

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.

Aimee Paterson (right) received the Sir Colin Blakemore Award from Professor Amrita Ahluwalia

Sir Colin Blakemore Award

Aimee Paterson, an animal technician and supervisor within the Biological Support Unit, was the recipient of the inaugural Sir Colin Blakemore Award from Understanding Animal Research. Aimee received the award in recognition of her passion and bravery in talking about her work and that of the unit more widely in the Institute’s takeover of UAR’s Instagram account as part of Mice in Research week in May 2023.

BBSRC Pioneer Award recipience. From left to righr: Ian McGough, Maria Christophorou, Jon Houseley and Teresa Rayon

BBSRC Pioneer Awards

Ian McGough, Maria Christophorou, Jon Houseley and Teresa Rayon were all awarded BBSRC Pioneer Awards, created to support frontier bioscience research with the potential to transform our understanding of life. These innovative research projects are widening our understanding of how toxic protein aggregates form and how developmental time is set in different species, looking for novel ways to tackle drug-resistant fungal pathogens and investigating the possibility that cells talk to each other using an unknown signalling pathway.

Theresa Pankhurst (left) and Michelle Linterman (right) sat outside the Babraham Institute labs.

Te Urungi Churchill College By-Fellowship

Postdoctoral fellow Theresa Pankhurst joined the Linterman lab at the Institute through a unique fellowship between the Institute and the Malaghan Institute of Medical Research in Wellington, New Zealand. The Te Urungi Churchill College By-Fellowship supports Theresa to undertake research that strives for equitable health outcomes for Māori.

Institute annual prizes in 2023

The following individuals were recognised by Institute prizes recognising achievements in research excellence, knowledge exchange and commercialisation, public engagement, supporting equality, diversity and inclusion, and creating an engaging scientific image.

2023 Institute Prize winners photographed together

2023 Sir Michael Berridge Prize

The 2023 Sir Michael Berridge Prize was awarded to postdoc Tamara Chessa for her contribution to the research published in the paper: PLEKHS1 drives PI3Ks and remodels pathway homeostasis in PTEN-null prostate.

 

Knowledge Exchange and Commercialisation Prize

The Knowledge Exchange and Commercialisation Prize was presented to Rachael Walker for leadership and enthusiasm for activities across many aspects of knowledge exchange and commercialisation – from founding a spin-out company to organising the Spectral Flow Cytometry Conference.

 

Public Engagement Prize

Amy Wilkinson won the Public Engagement Prize for work bringing together artists, scientists and the public in a SciArt project and for contributions to a public dialogue project, both associated with the Human Developmental Biology Initiative.

 

Award for Contributions to Research Integrity 

The Award for Contributions to Research Integrity was given to three members of staff, each recognised as an exemplar in demonstrating and supporting best practice in research integrity. These were: Richard Acton, Data Outputs Manager; Emily Watson, Research Assistant; Cass Flowers, Chief Information Officer.

 

equity4success Award

The equity4success Award went to PhD student Oishee Rahman for her work with One Million Mentors and Close the Gap to support first generation university students and postgraduates from minority backgrounds, and her role as the Ethnic Minority Welfare Officer at the Jesus College MCR.

 

Image Prize

The Image Prize was awarded to Aurora Xu, PhD student, for her image ‘Gut’s feelings’.

2024

Louise Jopling

Entrepreneur in Residence

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

Korenchevsky Prize

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

Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellowship

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

Kia Niwha Leader Fellowship

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.

Maha Ashraf

Knowledge Transfer Innovation Fellowship

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

Sir Michael Berridge Prize

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.

Aljona Kolmogorova

Entrepreneurial Lead

The Knowledge Exchange and Commercialisation team welcomed Aljona Kolmogorova as its first Entrepreneurial Lead, supported by the Innovate UK’s Innovation-to-Commercialisation of University Research (ICURe) Explore programme. Aljona worked as a postdoctoral researcher with Maria Rostovskaya and Peter Rugg-Gunn in the Epigenetics research programme and as Entrepreneurial Lead applied her in-depth subject knowledge to advance the market development of Maria and Peter’s patented amniotic epithelial stem cell technology.

Juliet Emery

Herschel Programme for Women in Technical Leadership

Juliet Emery, Head of Science Technical Services (above), Laura Durrant, Genomics Specialist, and Megan Hamilton, Head of our Genomics facility all completed the Herschel Programme for Women in Technical Leadership. This national six-month programme is designed to elevate and advance opportunities for women who are current or aspiring leaders in technical roles.

 

Institute annual prizes in 2024

The following individuals were recognised by Institute prizes recognising achievements in knowledge exchange and commercialisation, public engagement, supporting equality, diversity and inclusion, and creating an engaging scientific image.

2024 Institute Prize winners photographed with Institute Director Dr Simon Cook

Knowledge Exchange and Commercialisation Prize

The Knowledge Exchange and Commercialisation Prize was awarded jointly to Richard Berks, Named Information Manager, and Sarah Drummond, Experienced Animal Technician, for their leadership and work organising the Institute’s 2024 Animal Technician Conference.

 

Public Engagement Prize

The Public Engagement Prize was presented jointly to PhD students Ellie Griffiths and Jake Cross for their work developing and delivering the Big Autophagy Obstacle Course. Amongst other exceptional nominations, this project was recognised as a great example of researcher-led engagement sharing the Institute’s research in a novel way.

 

equity4success Award

The equity4success Award was given to Stephane Guillaume, PhD student in the Linterman lab, and Honor Pollard, Communications Officer. Stephane and Honor are Chair and Co-Chair of the Institute’s LGTBQ+ Network, Pride@Babraham, and were recognised for their work establishing the Network and creating a visibly inclusive and supportive community.

 

Award for Contributions to Research Integrity

The Award for Contributions to Research Integrity was awarded to Trevor Smith, Health and Safety and Quality Assurance Manager, for his long-term commitment to supporting research integrity, especially recognising that his knowledge and expertise were instrumental to embedding research integrity at the Institute, not least with undertaking reviews of research integrity to secure continued progress towards excellence in research integrity practices.

 

Image Prize

The Image Prize was awarded to Pavi Manivannan from the David lab for her image ‘Luminous lysosomes’, showing the pharynx of the model organism C. elegans with fluorescently tagged proteins. The image was captured as part of research using C. elegans to explore protein degradation (lysosomes are vital organelles responsible for protein degradation in cells) and protein aggregation.