Sanger parasite researcher recognised by British Parasitology Society
Today (2 April 2017) in Dundee, Dr Matthew Berriman will receive his medal and give a plenary talk on his genomic research at the opening of the British Parasitology Society’s 2017 Spring Symposium.
The CA Wright medal has been given annually since 1985 to a member of the British Society of Parasitology to recognise their outstanding contribution to the discipline of parasitology. The recipient is a scientist in mid-career who, it is considered, will confirm their already outstanding achievements to become a truly distinguished future leader of their field.
“Worms and protozoa cause many of the most important neglected tropical diseases and genomics is helping to unlock their secrets and identify weaknesses in these parasites. It’s immensely rewarding to apply genomic technologies to these debilitating diseases to help discover new approaches to treating and preventing them. We can only make such progress through collaborative working and I’m honoured that the efforts of my team members – past and present – are being recognised in this way by the British Parasitology Society.”
Dr Matt Berriman Group Leader at the Sanger Institute
Dr Berriman, a senior group leader within the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, has played a leading role in the sequencing of genomes from protozoan and helminthic parasites as well as the application of these data in the study of parasite biology, genetics, evolution and adaptation to parasitism. This research has proven transformational in the field of parasitology. The award of the CA Wright Medal recognises the impact of Dr Berriman’s research in placing British parasitology at the forefront of international efforts to tackle the health burden attributed to parasitic disease.
“This medal recognises the enabling role that genome technology has throughout parasitology research. Through leading initiatives such as the 50 Helminths Project to generate the genomes of the world’s most damaging worms, Matt is driving forward the research community’s understanding of parasites. His award is richly deserved.”
Professor Julian Parkhill Head of the Infection Genomics Programme at the Sanger Institute
The award was initiated in 1985 to commemorate Chris Wright, Director of the Experimental Taxonomy Unit at the Natural History Museum, London, UK and, at the time of his untimely death in 1983, the Society’s President. The Medal’s aim of recognising outstanding parasitologists in the middle of their careers is in keeping with Chris Wright’s encouragement of younger parasitologists.
“The British Parasitology Society seeks to highlight the unique importance of parasitology as a unique discipline in biology and nurture collaboration and communication between parasitologists across the world. Dr Berriman’s research to sequence parasite genomes, coupled with his commitment to share his data openly, is revealing new drug targets and providing foundational knowledge for fellow parasitiologists worldwide to build upon.”
Professor Mark Taylor President of the British Society of Parasitology and Professor at Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine
More information
Selected websites
British Society of Parasitology
The British Society for Parasitology exists to draw attention to the unique importance of parasitology as a distinct discipline within biology. The Society was formed in 1962 from the Parasitological Section of the Institute of Biology. Today the Society is the central networking and meeting point for many professional, student and amateur parasitologists throughout the UK and across the world. The BSP runs two meetings per annum, a large Spring Meeting and a smaller Autumn Symposium which focusses on a particular topic each year. The society’s mission is to advance the study of parasitology, facilitate communication within the broad community of parasitologists, and promote wider dissemination of advances in the field of parasitology.
Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute
The Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute is one of the world’s leading genome centres. Through its ability to conduct research at scale, it is able to engage in bold and long-term exploratory projects that are designed to influence and empower medical science globally. Institute research findings, generated through its own research programs and through its leading role in international consortia, are being used to develop new diagnostics and treatments for human disease.
