embopress release

Heidelberg | September 6, 2006 Frank Uhlmann of London Research Institute wins “EMBO Gold”

Dr Frank Uhlmann of Cancer Research Unravelling mechanisms like these is key UK’s London Research Institute is the win- to understanding how mistakes in mitosis ner can lead to cancer – knowledge that could of the 2006 EMBO Gold Medal. He receives eventually lead to the development of new the award “in recognition of a decade of rategies for the prevention, diagnosis and extraordinary work that has revolutionised treatment of the disease. our understanding of the and opened the door to new possibilities in ’s praise for Uhlmann’s work cancer treatment,” said EMBO Executive during his time at the IMP is unequivocal: Director, Frank Gannon. “Frank was an extraordinarily successful post-doc. He was not merely a pair of The EMBO Gold Medal is awarded annually supremely competent hands in the lab. to a young European researcher for I don’t think that the experiments he per- outstanding contributions to research in formed would have taken place without Frank Uhlmann Winner the molecular life sciences. Widely regard- his special blend of technical competence, of the 2006 EMBO Gold ed as the most prestigious award of its good judgement and fearlessness.” Medal. kind in Europe, the Gold Medal highlights the standards being reached by European Uhlmann has continued to put these quali- researchers – bringing the very best of ties to good use since joining the London these to the attention of a global audience. Research Institute. As Head of the Segregation Laboratory, he German-born Frank Uhlmann is a per- has built on his earlier discoveries – defin- fect example of the “golden” career that ing modes of regulation and sets apart all EMBO medal winners. After uncovering other ways in which the protein completing his PhD at the Memorial Sloan- orchestrates intricate processes during Kettering Cancer Center in New York, he mitosis and ensures that separated chro- spent three years in Kim Nasmyth’s group mosomes move away from each other at Vienna’s Research Institute of Molecular successfully. His group has also gone on to Pathology (IMP), before taking up a position decipher the role of another crucial protein, at the London Research Institute in 2000. called “”, on a genome-wide scale. During his time at IMP, Uhlmann combined novel techniques in biochemistry, cell , Director of the London biology and genetics to uncover the trigger Research Institute, is certainly convinced of for one of the most significant events in the Uhlmann’s abilities: ”We were delighted to life of eukaryotic cells – mitosis, the proc- welcome Frank to Cancer Research UK six ess whereby cells divide and split their years ago. He has pursued world-class duplicated genomes between two daughter research on the processes of cellular divi- cells. He found that a protein, now called sion, advancing our fundamental under- “separase”, cuts cohesive links between the standing of how these systems work and duplicated , triggering their providing clues to how they may be dis- movement towards the daughter cells. rupted in cancer.” Uhlmann has published over 40 papers, a “I am absolutely delighted by this award. So number of these in high-impact journals many researchers work hard to contribute such as Nature, Cell or Science. In addition to our molecular knowledge of cells and to the EMBO Gold Medal, he has received organisms. It has been fantastic to find several other awards including the 2005 myself doing research in this exciting envi- Hooke Medal from the British Society for ronment. I very much enjoy participating in Cell Biology. European science at many levels, so to get this recognition from EMBO makes me In 2002, he was selected for the EMBO particularly happy.” Young Investigator Programme, a highly competitive programme renowned for its The EMBO Gold Medal and an award scientific excellence. of 10,000 euro will be presented on 15 October 2006 at the EMBO Members On hearing the news of the EMBO Gold Meeting, Frontiers of Molecular Biology, in Medal, Frank Uhlmann said: Sheffield, UK.

Press EMBO Cancer Research UK Contacts Lindsay Johnson (interviews with Frank Uhlmann) Chief Communications Officer Michael Regnier tel +49 (0)6221 8891 108 Senior Press Officer (Science) [email protected] tel +44 (0)20 7061 8309 out-of-office +44 (0) 7050 264 059 michael.regnier@cancer