PRESS RELEASES

9 October 2007

Stem cell community welcomes Nobel recognition for Professor Sir Martin Evans

The UK National Stem Cell Network (UKNSCN), on behalf of the country’s stem cell research community, has warmly welcomed the awarding of the 2007 Nobel Prize for Medicine to Professor Sir Martin Evans.

Sir Martin, together with his US-based colleagues Mario Capecchi and Oliver Smithies, pioneered the development of gene knockout technology. This has allowed scientists to study human diseases in mice by making genetic changes to the animal’s stem cells. The technique has given scientists ways to study almost any aspect of mammalian physiology, including embryo development, ageing and disease.

Lord Naren Patel, chair of the UKNSCN Steering Committee on which Sir Martin sits, said: “The UK stem cell community owes a huge debt of gratitude to Sir Martin Evans for his groundbreaking work. In gene knockout technology, Sir Martin and his colleagues have given us a technique that allows us to study both normal mammal development and a wide-ranging of devastating human diseases.”

“We warmly congratulate Sir Martin on his scientific achievements and his recognition from the Nobel committee.”

ENDS

Contact

UKNSCN Press Office
Matt Goode, Tel: 01793 413299, Direct email: matt.goode@bbsrc.ac.uk
Press Office email: ukpo@uknscn.org

Ben Sykes, UKNSCN Executive Director,
Tel: 01793 414676, e-mail: uksa@uknscn.org

Notes to Editors

Professor Sir Martin Evans FRS FMedSci was appointed to the UKNSCN’s first steering committee in December 2006.

About the UK National Stem Cell Network

The UK National Stem Cell Network is designed to act as a network of the existing regional stem cell networks in the UK, to bring coordination and coherence to a range of national and regional activities in the field of stem cell research.

The UKNSCN secretariat receives financial support from four of the UK Research Councils:

* Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)
* Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC)
* Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)
* Medical Research Council (MRC)

The Network represents the UK stem cell research community and is run through an independent Steering Committee. Initially, the secretariat is operated by BBSRC on behalf of all the Government sponsors of stem cell research, including the Research Councils, the Department of Health and the Department of Innovation, Universities and Skills.