Eppendorf Young Investigator Award 2008 for Dr. Simon Boulton

Groundbreaking work on SPAR1, a newly discovered helicase

27-Nov-2008 - Germany

Dr. Simon Boulton of the London Research Institute (Clare Hall laboratories, South Mimms, Hertfordshire) won the Eppendorf Young Investigator Award for his groundbreaking work on SPAR1, a newly discovered helicase. SPAR1 plays an important, controlling role in the repair of double-stranded DNA breaks by HRC (homologous recombination). Mice with deactivated SPAR1 will die of dramatic genome instability after 11 days. The reason seems to be a deregulation of homologous recombination due to missing SPAR1. Such mechanisms also play an important role, for example, in the development of certain tumors. Based on a detailed insight into this SPAR1 function, therapeutic approaches to combat specific tumors have already been developed. A prospective therapeutic drug is already being tested clinically.

Eppendorf AG

Günter Bechtler, Kai Simons, Simon Boulton, Dieter Häussinger, Reinhard Jahn, Michael Schroeder

The 2008 Eppendorf Young Investigator Award is the 14th research prize conferred by the Hamburg biotech company to honor outstanding work in biomedical research in Europe. With this award, Eppendorf sponsors young European scientists up to age of 35. Dr. Simon Boulton received the prize during a gala dinner attended guests from the scientific community and related industry.

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