DOCSLIB.ORG

Opening up the Scientific Literature Meet the New EMBO Young

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Opening up the Scientific Literature Meet the New EMBO Young WINTER 2017 ISSUE 37 28 researchers selected Meet the new EMBO Young Investigators PAGES 4 – 5 Award for SourceData Open Access Opening up the scientific Going for gold for a literature sustainable future PAGE 3 PAGE 11 Transparency at EMBO Press Recognition of excellence Celebrating 10 years ERC Responsible and accountable publishing Newest EMBO Members welcomed Frank Gannon recounts how it came into being at annual meeting PAGE 6 PAGE 7 PAGE 10 www.embo.org Table of contents EMBO NEWS SCIENCE POLICY © Marietta Schupp, EMBL Photolab Marietta Schupp, © SourceData wins publishing Open Access: why green is not the new innovation award Page 3 gold Page 11 Editorial Welcoming 28 new Young ith the announcement that all publicly funded research in Investigators Pages 4 – 5 WEurope must be freely acces- sible from 2020 onwards, the European EMBO Press brings more transparency Union firmly anchored Open Access in the to publishing Page 6 future of scientific publishing. It’s an ambi- tious target, and in the quest for solutions, we mustn’t overlook the need for publish- Women in Science Awards ing models that are sustainable in the long presented Page 6 term (p 11). SCIENCE STORY At the same time, the ‘when’ and ‘how’ to make scientific papers openly available Non-coding RNAs – where are not the only questions we must think about. Making an article available for free next? Pages 12 – 13 on the internet does not necessarily mean that interested readers, whether they are scientists or not, are able to find and bene- EMBO community fit from the publication. Back in 2009, the 50 millionth scientific Updates from across Europe article was published. With an estimated growth rate of between 8 and 9%, we will Pages 14 – 16 EMBO NEWS be approaching double that figure in the next two years. Adding to that the fact that the figures and data, which lie at the heart Newest EMBO Members meet in Awards and publications of a scientific publication, are not easy to Heidelberg Page 7 search, it is becoming increasingly difficult Achievements and papers by members to identify relevant work and keep up with EMBO at Basel Life: a snapshot Page 8 the latest studies in a field. of the EMBO community Page 17 EMBO’s SourceData platform offers a solution by turning figures into search- EMBO | EuropaBio Fellowships open able entities (p 3). By creating machine- for application Page 9 EMBO events readable descriptions of scientific figures, SourceData makes scientific data more Strengthening ties with the Taiwanese Upcoming courses, workshops and discoverable. A proof-of concept showed that the approach works. The next step will Ministry of Science and Technology conferences Page 17 be to work with the community to embed Page 9 SourceData more widely to make sure we really can open up the scientific literature. Frank Gannon reflects on the birth of Fresh from EMBO press the ERC Page 10 Some of our latest publications at a Maria Leptin Director, EMBO glance Page 19 2 EMBOencounters | Winter 2017 | [email protected] ©2017 EMBO EMBO NEWS Opening up the scientific literature How SourceData aims to combine scientific expertise with machine learning n the biological sciences, most of the data Generating the metadata from figures that are supervision to ensure the quality of the informa- produced are published in the form of figures. necessary for SourceData’s capabilities means tion extracted, explains SourceData project lead IHowever, the search tools used to find identifying the biological entities – the proteins, Thomas Lemberger. “The important task of iden- published papers are usually limited to keyword- molecules or genes – referenced in each figure tifying discrete, named entities from text input based text searches. and legend, as well as their relationships. is one that can be addressed by automated text- EMBO’s SourceData platform generates a Eva Benito-Garagorri, who recently joined mining technologies.” description of these figures, and the data and SourceData as Scientific Coordinator, explains To explore how text-mining can be used as relationships they contain, in a machine-reada- further: “Interpreting this information is rela- part of the curation workflow, SourceData joined the 6th BioCreAtIvE (Critical Assessment of Information Extraction systems in Biology) chal- lenge. As part of the challenge text-miners are SourceData wins ALPSP award invited to use the SourceData dataset to train and assess algorithms that match entities found in SourceData received recognition from the which brought together many of the major figure legends with their identifiers from stand- scientific publishing community when it was publishing houses. Both SourceData and Publons ardised biological taxonomies such as Uniprot or awarded the ALPSP Award for Innovation in (publons.com) received awards for innovation ChEBI, and then output the results in a suitable Publishing 2017. The annual award from the and were praised by the chair of judges, David format for SourceData. Association of Learned and Professional Society Sommer, who said: “Our winners are the result of Publishers (ALPSP) recognises outstanding inno- successful collaboration and partnership work- Opening new avenues with artificial intelligence vators in scholarly and professional publishing. ing within the industry to make a positive differ- The potential for automation in the SourceData SourceData was presented with the award on 15 ence to the academic community for the good of curation workflow does not end with entity recog- September 2017 at a ceremony in Amsterdam all.” nition. Thomas Lemberger explains: “We know that machine learning is making rapid progress in being able to extract meaning from natural language. Such methods are used by Twitter to identify sentiment, and by Google Translate to interpret the meaning of phrases. In our case, the task is to identify the nature of the relationship between entities – which one is influencing the other?” While this methodology remains in develop- ment, Lemberger is looking towards new para- digms whereby artificial intelligence algorithms improve themselves by learning from corrections made by expert curators and authors during publication. Successful implementation would make SourceData one of the first examples in publishing of coupling the expertise of scien- tists with the capabilities of machine learning models. This would open new avenues in scien- tific publishing, extending SourceData’s mission to the extraction and organization of structured Thomas Lemberger accepts the ALPSP award 2017. scientific knowledge. © The Association of Learned & Professional Society Publishers & Association of Learned The © More information: sourcedata.embo.org ble format. As a result, articles can be searched tively easy for humans with the appropriate Liechti R, George N, Götz L, El-Gebali S, Chasapi A, based on the data shown in their figures, and scientific background, so figures are currently Crespo I, Xenarios I & Lemberger T (2017) SourceData figures that display related results can be linked processed for SourceData by professional bio- - a semantic platform for curating and searching across papers. The method for this has now been curators.” However, developments in machine figures, Nature Methods 14: 1021-1022. Doi: published in a paper authored by EMBO project learning could mean that the future holds a faster 10.1038/nmeth.4471 team members and their collaborators at the and easier way to extract the information from Editorial: The search for data, Nature Methods 14: Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics (Liechti et al., figure legends. 1017 Nature Methods, 2017). The SourceData approach has the potential Automation for faster curation to accelerate scientific discovery and “could The SourceData platform remains in active devel- fundamentally shift how scientists interact with opment with the goal of establishing an open and the collective body of knowledge and open up effective standard for the discovery and re-use of all data to synthesis, reassessment and reuse”, as scientific data. One of the next steps in develop- highlighted in a recent editorial (Nature Methods, ing the platform is the acceleration of the figure November 2017). curation workflow while keeping expert-based ©2017 EMBO EMBOencounters | Winter 2017 | [email protected] 3 EMBO NEWS Welcoming the new EMBO Young Investigators 28 group leaders from 11 countries join the EMBO community Filipe Cabreiro Bacteria: macromolecular machines for nutrition and 28 young researchers were elected drugs as EMBO Young Investigators London, GB this year. They join a network of 47 current and 417 past Young Investigators who represent some of the best up-and-coming group leaders in the life sciences in Europe and beyond. “It is a pleasure to welcome these Axel Innis Nicola Iovino Manuel Irimia Ribosome inhibition Epigenetic regulation of Transcriptomics of outstanding scientists to the by nascent or fertilization vertebrate development antimicrobial peptides Freiburg, DE and evolution EMBO community,” says EMBO Bordeaux, FR Barcelona, ES Director Maria Leptin. “Between them, they carry out some very promising life science research that Europe has to offer, and we look forward to supporting them in their professional and scientific endeavours.” Daniel Messerschmidt Patrick Müller Elizabeth Murchison Epigenetic reprogramming Quantitative analysis, Genetics and evolution The new Young Investigators are and its implications in control,and engineering of of transmissible cancers based in 11 different
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Mothers in Science
    The aim of this book is to illustrate, graphically, that it is perfectly possible to combine a successful and fulfilling career in research science with motherhood, and that there are no rules about how to do this. On each page you will find a timeline showing on one side, the career path of a research group leader in academic science, and on the other side, important events in her family life. Each contributor has also provided a brief text about their research and about how they have combined their career and family commitments. This project was funded by a Rosalind Franklin Award from the Royal Society 1 Foreword It is well known that women are under-represented in careers in These rules are part of a much wider mythology among scientists of science. In academia, considerable attention has been focused on the both genders at the PhD and post-doctoral stages in their careers. paucity of women at lecturer level, and the even more lamentable The myths bubble up from the combination of two aspects of the state of affairs at more senior levels. The academic career path has academic science environment. First, a quick look at the numbers a long apprenticeship. Typically there is an undergraduate degree, immediately shows that there are far fewer lectureship positions followed by a PhD, then some post-doctoral research contracts and than qualified candidates to fill them. Second, the mentors of early research fellowships, and then finally a more stable lectureship or career researchers are academic scientists who have successfully permanent research leader position, with promotion on up the made the transition to lectureships and beyond.
    [Show full text]
  • Looking at Earth: an Astronaut's Journey Induction Ceremony 2017
    american academy of arts & sciences winter 2018 www.amacad.org Bulletin vol. lxxi, no. 2 Induction Ceremony 2017 Class Speakers: Jane Mayer, Ursula Burns, James P. Allison, Heather K. Gerken, and Gerald Chan Annual David M. Rubenstein Lecture Looking at Earth: An Astronaut’s Journey David M. Rubenstein and Kathryn D. Sullivan ALSO: How Are Humans Different from Other Great Apes?–Ajit Varki, Pascal Gagneux, and Fred H. Gage Advancing Higher Education in America–Monica Lozano, Robert J. Birgeneau, Bob Jacobsen, and Michael S. McPherson Redistricting and Representation–Patti B. Saris, Gary King, Jamal Greene, and Moon Duchin noteworthy Select Prizes and Andrea Bertozzi (University of James R. Downing (St. Jude Chil- Barbara Grosz (Harvard Univer- California, Los Angeles) was se- dren’s Research Hospital) was sity) is the recipient of the Life- Awards to Members lected as a 2017 Simons Investi- awarded the 2017 E. Donnall time Achievement Award of the gator by the Simons Foundation. Thomas Lecture and Prize by the Association for Computational American Society of Hematology. Linguistics. Nobel Prize in Chemistry, Clara D. Bloomfield (Ohio State 2017 University) is the recipient of the Carol Dweck (Stanford Univer- Christopher Hacon (University 2017 Robert A. Kyle Award for sity) was awarded the inaugural of Utah) was awarded the Break- Joachim Frank (Columbia Univer- Outstanding Clinician-Scientist, Yidan Prize. through Prize in Mathematics. sity) presented by the Mayo Clinic Di- vision of Hematology. Felton Earls (Harvard Univer- Naomi Halas (Rice University) sity) is the recipient of the 2018 was awarded the 2018 Julius Ed- Nobel Prize in Economic Emmanuel J.
    [Show full text]
  • Download the Annual Review PDF 2016-17
    Annual Review 2016/17 Pushing at the frontiers of Knowledge Portrait of Dr Henry Odili Nwume (Brasenose) by Sarah Jane Moon – see The Full Picture, page 17. FOREWORD 2016/17 has been a memorable year for the country and for our University. In the ever-changing and deeply uncertain world around us, the University of Oxford continues to attract the most talented students and the most talented academics from across the globe. They convene here, as they have always done, to learn, to push at the frontiers of knowledge and to improve the world in which we find ourselves. One of the highlights of the past twelve months was that for the second consecutive year we were named the top university in the world by the Times Higher Education Global Rankings. While it is reasonable to be sceptical of the precise placements in these rankings, it is incontrovertible that we are universally acknowledged to be one of the greatest universities in the world. This is a privilege, a responsibility and a challenge. Other highlights include the opening of the world’s largest health big data institute, the Li Ka Shing Centre for Health Information and Discovery, and the launch of OSCAR – the Oxford Suzhou Centre for Advanced Research – a major new research centre in Suzhou near Shanghai. In addition, the Ashmolean’s success in raising £1.35 million to purchase King Alfred’s coins, which included support from over 800 members of the public, was a cause for celebration. The pages that follow detail just some of the extraordinary research being conducted here on perovskite solar cells, indestructible tardigrades and driverless cars.
    [Show full text]
  • Ingredients for Success 18Th HFSP Awardees Meeting
    Ingredients for success In 2018, we yet again embarked on a new era in the HFSP by Guntram Bauer Fellowship program. After careful internal discussion and HFSPO Director of Scientific Affairs and Communications preparations, the review committee was presided over by a non- reviewing chair. Peter Koopman from the Institute of Molecular Bioscience of the University of Queensland took center stage as chair of this committee. Peter finished a four year tenure as a member of the fellowship review committee in 2016 and arrived back in Strasbourg after a three month sailing trip in the southern Pacific. Peer review at HFSP is not reading tea leaves but serious and demanding work for all involved. Thanks to Peter Koopman we successfully completed the first fellowship review committee run by a non-reviewing chair. We are still not sure what the magic ingredient was that made this fellowship committee stand out. Whether it was a truly committed international review panel, or the drive and oversight of its non-reviewing chair, or simply because of the HFSP Sauce which arrived in the chair's suitcase in Strasbourg. Probably all three, though be assured that we will get to the bottom of the HFSP Sauce! I don’t think we are boasting about HFSP when we say that our Program always tries to synchronize its procedures with the dynamics at the frontiers of science. This is particularly true for our peer review process. Over many years we have made more than just subtle changes to our procedures in response to feedback from the scientific community.
    [Show full text]
  • Annual Report Fy 2018 Human Frontier Science Program Organization
    APRIL 2017 APRIL 2018 — MARCH 2019 ANNUAL REPORT FY 2018 HUMAN FRONTIER SCIENCE PROGRAM ORGANIZATION The Human Frontier Science Program Organization (HFSPO) is unique, supporting international collaboration to undertake innovative, risky, basic research at the frontier of the life sciences. Special emphasis is given to the support and training of independent young investigators, beginning at the postdoctoral level. The Program is implemented by an international organisation, supported financially by Australia, Canada, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, Switzerland, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Nothern Ireland, the United States of America, and the European Commission. Since 1990, over 7000 researchers from more than 70 countries have been supported. Of these, 28 HFSP awardees have gone on to receive the Nobel Prize. 2 The following documents are available on the HFSP website www.hfsp.org: Joint Communiqués (Tokyo 1992, Washington 1997, Berlin 2002, Bern 2004, Ottawa 2007, Canberra 2010, Brussels 2013, London 2016): https://www.hfsp.org/about/governance/membership Statutes of the International Human Frontier Science Program Organization: https://www.hfsp.org/about/governance/hfspo-statutes Guidelines for the participation of new members in HFSPO: https://www.hfsp.org/about/governance/membership General reviews of the HFSP (1996, 2001, 2006-2007, 2010, 2018): https://www.hfsp.org/about/strategy/reviews Updated and previous lists of awards, including titles and abstracts:
    [Show full text]
  • A Comprehensive, Mechanistically Detailed, and Executable Model of the Cell Division Cycle in Saccharomyces Cerevisiae
    bioRxiv preprint doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/298745; this version posted April 10, 2018. The copyright holder for this preprint (which was not certified by peer review) is the author/funder, who has granted bioRxiv a license to display the preprint in perpetuity. It is made available under aCC-BY-NC 4.0 International license. A comprehensive, mechanistically detailed, and executable model of the Cell Division Cycle in Saccharomyces cerevisiae Ulrike Münzner1, 2, Edda Klipp1 and Marcus Krantz1 1. Institute of Biology, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany 2. Bioinformatics Center, Institute for Chemical Research, Kyoto University, Uji, Japan [email protected] bioRxiv preprint doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/298745; this version posted April 10, 2018. The copyright holder for this preprint (which was not certified by peer review) is the author/funder, who has granted bioRxiv a license to display the preprint in perpetuity. It is made available under aCC-BY-NC 4.0 International license. ABSTRACT Understanding how cellular functions emerge from the underlying molecular mechanisms is one of the principal challenges in biology. It is widely recognised that this will require computational methods, and we expect the predictive power of these models to increase as model coverage and precision of formulation increase. The most potent examples to date are the genome-scale metabolic models that revolutionised their field and paved the way for a bacterial whole-cell model. However, to realise the potential of whole-cell models for eukaryotes, we must enable genome-scale modelling of other cellular networks. This has proven particularly challenging for the cellular regulatory networks, i.e.
    [Show full text]
  • 2014 Annual Summary Corporate Plan
    The Gairdner Foundation Corporate Plan 2014 TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE Section I About the Gairdner Foundation 2 Objectives and Achievements to Date 5 Benefits 7 Section II Performance Results for 2013 Activities 7-8 Detailed 2013 Evaluations 9-10 Planned Activities and Anticipated Results 2014 11 Section III Financial Summary 12 Planned Receipts and Disbursements 2014 13-15 Section IV Risk Management 16 Section V Performance Monitoring 17-19 1 THE GAIRDNER FOUNDATION CORPORATE PLAN EXECUTIVE SUMMARY HISTORY The Gairdner Foundation was created by James A. Gairdner to recognize and reward the achievements of medical researchers whose work “contributes significantly to improving the quality of human life”. The Foundation is a Canadian organization that has never lost sight of its primary mission – the recognition of scientists it deemed to have made the most important breakthrough discoveries in biomedical science. It’s recipients are responsible for the discovery of the structure of DNA, the eradication of smallpox, CT scans, MRI machines, the human genome, the cure for ulcers, and the vaccine against HPV, to name a few. Since the first awards were granted in 1959, the Canada Gairdner Awards have become Canada's foremost international award- and one of the most prestigious awards in medical science. Our track record of consistent high quality adjudication and selection by the independent adjudication committees have resulted in global recognition and esteem. The Gairdner was incorporated in December 1957 as a charitable corporation under the laws of the Province of Ontario, Canada. Its funds originally derived from the personal gifts of the founder and members of his family.
    [Show full text]
  • (November) 2017
    ISSUE 2 (NOVEMBER) 2017 FEBS 2017 Congress FEBS Press FEBS Network 43rd FEBS Congress FEBS Advanced round-up Courses 2018 Page 3 Page 12 Page 14 Page 21 Page 24 CONTENTS Contents: The 2017 FEBS Congress Round-Up 3 Enjoy reports and photos from our big event of the year FEBS Press 12 3 Journal awards and activities at the 2017 FEBS Congress, and recent Special Issues FEBS Network 14 Wondering what it is? We introduce this exciting new initiative here 11 FEBS Education 15 A look back at key events this year aimed at 14 improving teaching in molecular life sciences ` FEBS Fellowships 17 Featuring recent distinguished Long-Term Fellows FEBS Community 18 12 Constituent Society meetings with FEBS National Lectures, and FEBS Council elections FEBS Congress 2018 21 And now to next year... Read about the plans from the Congress Chair and save the dates! 21 FEBS Advanced Courses 2018 24 Browse the list of next year’s focused-topic courses and meetings across Europe About FEBS News: This issue as well as all former issues of FEBS News are available online at www.febs.org. To receive an email when a new FEBS News issue is out, simply sign up to the e-newsletter in the News section of the FEBS website. Questions and suggestions about FEBS News should be sent to the FEBS News Editor, Carolyn Elliss ([email protected]). FEBS website postings: FEBS offers free advertising of academic positions (PhD students, postdocs, etc.) in the Career Opportunities section of the website, and scientific events can be listed in our Conference Calendar.
    [Show full text]
  • Honorary Graduates – 1966 - 2004
    THE UNIVERSITY OF YORK HONORARY GRADUATES – 1966 - 2004 1966 MR PATRICK BLACKETT, physicist THE RT HON LORD GARDINER, Lord Chancellor SIR PETER HALL, director of plays and operas PRESIDENT KAUNDA, Head of State SIR HENRY MOORE, sculptor SIR ROBERT READ, poet and critic THE RT HON LORD ROBBINS, economist SIR MICHAEL TIPPETT, musician and composer THE RT HON BARONESS WOOTTON OF ABINGER 1967 SIR JOHN DUNNINGTON-JEFFERSON, for services to the University DR ARTHUR GLADWIN. For services to the University PROFESSOR F R LEAVIS, literary critic PROFESSOR WASSILY LEONTIEFF, economist PROFESSOR NIKLAUS PEVSNER, art & architecture critic and historian 1968 AMADEUS QUARTET NORBET BRAININ MARTIN LOVELL SIGMUND NISSELL PETER SCHIDLOF PROFESSOR F W BROOKS, historian LORD CLARK, art historian MRS B PAGE, librarian LORD SWANN, Biologist (and Director-General of the BBC) DAME EILEEN YOUNGHUSBAND, social administrator 1969 PROFESSOR L C KNIGHTS, literacy critic SIR PETER PEARS, singer SIR GEORGE PICKERING, scholar in medicine SIR GEORGE RUSSELL, industrial designer PROFESSOR FRANCIS WORMALD, historian 1969 Chancellor’s installation ceremony THE EARL OF CRAWFORD AND BALCARRES, patron of the arts MR JULIAN CAIN, scholar and librarian PROFESSOR DAVID KNOWLES, historian MR WALTER LIPPMAN, writer & journalist 1970 PROFESSOR ROGER BROWN, social psychologist THE RT HON THE VISCOUNT ESHER, PROFESSOR DOROTHY HODGKIN, chemist PROFESSOR A J P TAYLOR, historian 1971 DAME KITTY ANDERSON, headmistress DR AARON COPLAND, composer DR J FOSTER, secretary-General of the Association
    [Show full text]
  • Looking at Earth: an Astronaut's Journey Induction Ceremony 2017
    american academy of arts & sciences winter 2018 www.amacad.org Bulletin vol. lxxi, no. 2 Induction Ceremony 2017 Class Speakers: Jane Mayer, Ursula Burns, James P. Allison, Heather K. Gerken, and Gerald Chan Annual David M. Rubenstein Lecture Looking at Earth: An Astronaut’s Journey David M. Rubenstein and Kathryn D. Sullivan ALSO: How Are Humans Different from Other Great Apes?–Ajit Varki, Pascal Gagneux, and Fred H. Gage Advancing Higher Education in America–Monica Lozano, Robert J. Birgeneau, Bob Jacobsen, and Michael S. McPherson Redistricting and Representation–Patti B. Saris, Gary King, Jamal Greene, and Moon Duchin Upcoming Events MARCH APRIL 1st 12th California Institute of Technology American Academy Pasadena, CA Cambridge, MA Bryson Symposium on Climate and Annual Awards Ceremony: A Celebration of the Energy Policy Arts and Sciences Featuring: Dallas Burtraw (Resources for Featuring: Martha C. Nussbaum (Univer- the Future), Ralph Cavanagh (nrdc), sity of Chicago), recipient of the Don M. Nathan S. Lewis (California Institute of Randel Award for Humanistic Studies; and Technology), Mary Nichols (California Barbara J. Meyer (University of California, Air Resources Board), Ronald O. Nichols Berkeley), recipient of the Francis Amory (Southern California Edison), Thomas F. Prize in Medicine & Physiology Rosenbaum (California Institute of Tech- nology), and Maxine L. Savitz (Honeywell, MAY Inc., ret.; formerly, President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology) 3rd American Academy 7th Cambridge, MA American Academy Songs of Love and Death: Sonnets by Petrarch Cambridge, MA and Others Set by Cipriano de Rore in “I madri- Building, Exploring, and Using the Tree of Life gali a cinque voci” (Venice, 1542) Featuring: Douglas E.
    [Show full text]
  • Curriculum Vitae SIR RICHARD JOHN ROBERTS ADDRESS PERSONAL
    Curriculum Vitae SIR RICHARD JOHN ROBERTS ADDRESS New England Biolabs 240 County Road, Ipswich, MA 02138 USA Email: [email protected] Telephone: (978) 380-7405 / Fax: (978) 380-7406 PERSONAL Born on September 6, 1943, Derby, England EDUCATION 1962-1965 University of Sheffield, Sheffield, England B.Sc. in Chemistry 1966-1968 University of Sheffield, Sheffield, England Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry POSITIONS 2005- Chief Scientific Officer, New England Biolabs 1992-2005 Research Director, New England Biolabs 1986-92 Assistant Director for Research, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory 1972-86 Senior Staff Investigator, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory 1971-1972 Research Associate in Biochemistry, Harvard University 1969-1970 Research Fellow, Harvard University OUTSIDE ACTIVITIES 1974-1992 Consultant and Chairman of Scientific Advisory Board New England Biolabs 1977-1985 Scientific Advisory Board, Genex Corp. 1977-1987 Editorial Board: Nucleic Acids Research 1979-1984 Editorial Board: Journal of Biological Chemistry 1982-1989 Member: National Advisory Committee of GENBANK 1984-1986 Member: National Advisory Committee of BIONET 1985-1988 Panel member: NIH Study Section in Biochemistry. 1985-2002 Editorial Board: Bioinformatics (formerly CABIOS) 1987-1990 Chairman: National Advisory Committee of BIONET 1987-2009 Senior Executive Editor: Nucleic Acids Research 1990-1992 Panel member: NCI Cancer Centers Support Grant Review Committee 1993-1995 Panel member: NLM Study Section/Comp. Biol. 1994-2000 Scientific Advisory Board, Molecular Tool 1994- Patron of the Oxford International Biomedical Center 1996-1998 Visiting Professor, University of Bath, UK. 1996-2000 Chairman, NCI Board of Scientific Counselors 1996-1999 Scientific Advisory Board, Oxford Molecular Group 1997-2001 Editorial Board: Current Opinion Chem. Biol.
    [Show full text]
  • DNA Methylation Patterns and Cancer
    restriction/modification system, which brought Werner Arber, Daniel Nathans and Hamilton Smith the 1978 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, and made restriction enzymes the primary tools of Charles Rodolphe Brupbacher Foundation molecular biology. Four decades have passed since then, but the role of 5-methylcytosine in eukaryotic DNA metabolism is still shrouded in mystery. We know that the sperm methylation pattern is largely The erased after fertilization and that methylation is gradually reintroduced Charles Rodolphe Brupbacher Prize during embryogenesis and differentiation, but the processes that for Cancer Research 2017 regulate the cell type- and tissue-specific methylation patterns remain is awarded to to be elucidated. We have also learned that DNA can be not only methylated, but also demethylated, and that aberrant methylation can lead to disease - including cancer. Again, how these processes are regulated remains to be discovered. However, we have learnt a great Sir Adrian Peter Bird, deal about 5-methylcytosine metabolism during the past three decades and much of our knowledge came from the laboratory of Adrian Bird. PhD Adrian spent his doctoral and postdoctoral time in Max Birnstiel’s for his contributions to our understanding laboratory, first in Edinburgh and then in Zurich, studying the amplification of ribosomal DNA in Xenopus laevis. In this organism, of the role of DNA methylation in genomic rDNA in somatic tissues is highly methylated, while the development and disease extrachromosomal amplicons are unmethylated. When he returned to Edinburgh to establish his own group, Adrian set out to study The President The President of the Foundation of the Scientific Advisory Board the methylation pattern of these loci using the newly-available methylation-sensitive restriction enzymes.
    [Show full text]