QIMR scientist to receive $4 million research prize
Professor Emma Whitelaw, Senior Research Fellow at Qld Institute of Medical Research, has received one of only 12 Australia Fellowships (in 2009) which will provide a $4million injection of funding to further her research in the field of epigenetics. Selected from a pool of 71 high quality applicants, these researchers are the gold medal winners in their field. Professor Whitelaw received her award on Friday, January 30 at the Queensland Institute of Medical Research, presented by Senator, the Hon Jan McLucas, and CEO of the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), Warwick Anderson. Emma Whitelaw is a Senior Principal Research Fellow at the Queensland Institute of Medical Research. After completing her undergraduate degree at the Australian National University, she obtained a D.Phil at the University of Oxford and remained working in London and Oxford for the next fifteen years, moving back to Australia in 1991. |
She has focused her research on eukaryotic transcription using the mouse as a model organism. Her most notable research achievements are in the area of epigenetics, in particular, her studies on the transgenerational inheritance of epigenetic marks have stimulated a great deal of interest from the wider scientific community. Three years ago she moved to QIMR from her previous post at the University of Sydney and this year published The identification of 'paternal effect genes' in the mouse (Chong et al, Nature Genetics). These studies argue that the untransmitted genotype of sires (fathers) can affect their offspring's phenotype. Her laboratory is also studying the role of epigenetics in mediating environmental influences on phenotype. What is Epigenetics? |
MEDIA RELEASE: 29 January 2009 |
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