A Sussex University academic has been recognised for his work with one of the most prestigious prizes for scientific research.

Laurence Pearl, head of the universitys Life Sciences School, has won the Novartis Medal and Prize in the Biochemical Society Awards 2018.

Professor Pearl received the prize for his research into the structural biology of DNA repair, protein kinase signalling and molecular chaperones.

The Novartis Medal and Prize is awarded annually in recognition of the contribution scientists make to the development of biochemistry.

Professor Pearl, who has led the Life Sciences School since 2009, is not the first recipient with Sussex links.

His predecessors include two Nobel Prize winners the first recipient, Professor Sir John Kappa Cornforth, and Sir Paul Nurse, who began his research career at Sussex.

They also include Professor Sir Tom Blundell, who lectured in biochemistry at Sussex, and Professor Sir Adrian Bird, who was one of the universitys first ever biochemistry students.

The Novartis Medal and Prize winner is named as part of the Biochemical Societys annual awards which recognise 11 scientists for the excellence of their work and the profound impact their research has had on the scientific community and wider society.

Laurence Pearl

Ive been incredibly lucky with the clever and determined people whove come to work with me over the years and our international network of collaborators.

We are deeply indebted to Cancer Research UK and the Wellcome Trust for their generous long-term support which has given us the space to ask really interesting and difficult questions.

The acting chairman of the awards committee, Professor Colin D Bingle, said: Professor Pearl is an impressive biomedical scientist who has made significant contributions to our understanding.

Original post:
Sussex University scientist wins award for DNA research - Brighton and Hove News