New head announced for Nobel stronghold
21 November 2006
A new director has been appointed to head the world renowned Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology. Hugh Pelham, a cell biologist, was appointed following an international search for an exceptional scientist and leader.
After graduating from Cambridge University, Dr Pelham studied for his PhD under Richard Jackson and Tim Hunt, who was awarded the Nobel Prize for Medicine in 2001 for “discoveries of key regulators of the cell cycle”. Dr Pelham is now head of the Cell Biology division at LMB where he has worked on proteins which help to protect cells against the damaging effects of heat. In his current research, Dr Pelham looks at how proteins find their right places within cells and how mis-shaped proteins are broken down to be recycled. How these processes work in a normal cell can give clues to what’s happening at a cellular level in many human diseases.
The Chief Executive of the Medical Research Council, Professor Colin Blakemore said:
“We’re delighted that Hugh has agreed to lead the Laboratory of Molecular Biology. Hugh is an exceptional scientist and leader who will build on LMB’s towering reputation, one that he himself has already enhanced through his own scientific achievements.’’
Professor Blakemore paid tribute to Richard Henderson who is retiring after serving ten years as director.
“Richard has been an excellent leader at LMB for the past decade. He has initiated ambitious plans for a new building which will strengthen further the work at LMB.”
Those comments were echoed by Hugh Pelham:
"It is a pleasure to take over from Richard Henderson, who has done so much for the lab over the past ten years, in particular initiating ambitious plans for a new building. I am looking forward to the challenge of creating a new and vibrant LMB where the great scientific opportunities of the future can be explored."
Dr Henderson said:
"I have enjoyed my 10 years as Director of LMB much more than I anticipated, largely thanks to the hard work and success of the other scientists here. The research focus at LMB is now expanding with an emphasis on more complex systems. It is therefore most appropriate that the new Director of LMB should be Hugh Pelham, who is an accomplished cell biologist. I am personally delighted that Hugh has been appointed to lead the Laboratory during the next stage of its evolution, which will include moving into a newly designed building."
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MRC/36/06
