Monica Dias, group leader at the Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência (IGC), is one of this year’s 17 Young Investigators, selected by the European Molecular Biology Organisation (EMBO). The programme, set up 10 years ago, identifies some of Europe’s most promising and creative life scientists. This year, the 17 Young Investigators were selected from 123 applications; they work in nine different countries – Monica Dias is the only Portuguese scientist in this year’s selection.
Research in Monica’s Cell Cycle Regulation laboratory focuses on the control of cell cycle progression in normal development and cancer. Her lab is particularly interested in the role played by the centrosome, the primary microtubule organising centre in animal cells. Abnormalities in the number and structure of centrosomes have been observed in many cancers. Despite its importance, little is known about how centrosome are generated or how this process may go awry in human disease, something that her research group is addressing.
Says Mónica, ‘It is a great honour to be selected for this programme. It is a huge recognition of my research group’s work, and also of the increasing international excellence of research in Portugal. As part of this programme, my group and I will benefit from access to a network of around 230 scientists, as well as a range of resources and training opportunities, all of which will greatly advance our research efforts’.
EMBO Young Investigators receive 15,000 euro per year directly from the member state where their laboratories are located. Additional support is provided by EMBO for networking activities and small research projects in their laboratories.
For António Coutinho, Director of the IGC, ‘The EMBO Young Investigators are chosen by EMBO members – senior leading life scientists in Europe and world-wide – as some of the most promising young group leaders. It is a great honour that one of our group leaders has been selected to join this group, underscoring the leading position that the IGC, and life science research in Portugal, is attaining within the international scientific community’.
Monica Dias, 36 years old, joined the IGC in 2006, from the University of Cambridge, United Kingdom, where she was a Research Associate. Monica is an alumni of the Gulbenkian PhD Programme in Biology and Medicine, having obtained her PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, from the University of London. Besides her interests in scientific research, Monica is a keen communicator; she holds a post-graduate Diploma in Science Communication from Birkbeck College (UK), and organises regular workshops in science communication training for scientists.
Notes for Editors:
The Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência (IGC) is one of the leading life science research centres in Portugal. Founded by the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, the IGC´s mission is to carry out biomedical research and training. The IGC currently acts as a host institution to international research groups, providing state-of-the-art research facilities in a stimulating and autonomous environment. The IGC runs several ambitious graduate training programmes and a dedicated outreach and public engagement in science programme.
The European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO) promotes excellence in molecular life
sciences in Europe by recognizing and fostering talented scientists. Since 1964, leading
scientists are elected annually to become EMBO Members based on proven excellence in
research. Members number more than 1,400 today. Fifty-two scientists from the EMBO
membership have received the Nobel Prize.
2009 EMBO YOUNG INVESTIGATORS
Mónica Bettencourt Dias, Portugal
Cedric Blanpain, Belgium
Alan Carleton, Switzerland
Daniel Gerlich, Switzerland
Casper Hoogenraad, Netherlands
Luca Jovine, Sweden
Adele Marston, United Kingdom
Sophie Martin, Switzerland
Patrick Meraldi, Switzerland
M. Madan Babu, United Kingdom
Duncan Odom, United Kingdom
Simona Polo, Italy
Romeo Ricci, Switzerland
Botond Roska, Switzerland
Gerhard Schratt, Germany
Rotem Sorek, Israel
Tobias Walther, Germany
For further information, please contact Ana Godinho Tel. 21 440 7959