PARIS, LONDON and CAMBRIDGE, England, November 2 /PRNewswire/ --
- University of Cambridge professor's work with computing and biology isrecognised.
A computational cell biologist from the University of Cambridge has wonone of the largest international prizes in science, the Royal Society andAcademie des Sciences Microsoft European Science award, it was announcedtoday. Dr Dennis Bray has won the 250,000 euro award(1), funded by MicrosoftCorp, for his research using innovative computer simulations of biologicalsystems. His work focuses on the molecular systems that enable bacteria todetect and respond to chemical changes in their surroundings - swimming, forexample, towards food and away from poisons - a process known as chemotaxis.
"Bacterial chemotaxis is one of the few examples where we know all theindividual components that dictate cell behaviour," said Dr Bray. "Computermodeling allows us to look at how these sets of molecules, especiallyproteins, interact together to create a biological system and that's why it'sso exciting. Discrepancies between our models and the experimental data leadus to areas of uncertainty - cracks in the smooth surface of current dogmathat hint at unexplored layers below. One thing we discovered in this way isthat thousands of receptor molecules on the bacterial surface work together,making a highly sensitive 'nose' that can detect and analyse the smells fromdifferent food sources."
On a more general level, Dr Bray is trying to demonstrate that when computer simulations reach a sufficient richness and accuracy they may be treated as experimental objects in their own right. These surrogate organisms can then be used to tackle problems that cannot be approached with existing technology and equipment.
Dr Bray said, "This award will enable me to set up a computationalfacility for the new Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscienceat the University of Cambridge consisting of a network of computing nodes andworkstations. This will provide needed computational power for a number ofongoing projects, including our own molecular simulations of chemotaxis."
The Royal Society and Academie des Sciences Microsoft European Scienceaward was established to support research that explores novel scientifictechniques and discovery, fuelled by the increasing convergence of computerscience and the natural sciences. Microsoft's support of this award is partof Microsoft Research Cambridge's European Science Initiative, which isfocused on accelerating "new kinds" of science and computing being created atthe intersection of both - areas with the potential to create profoundsocial, technological, scientific and economic change.
Martin Rees, president of the Royal Society, said, "The interface ofscience and computing is challenging the frontiers of scientific knowledgeand a growing number of sciences would not exist in their current form wereit not for the power of computers now available. Dr Bray has been a tirelessand influential advocate of the computational approach to living cells. Hiswork demonstrates why computational biology will be essential for makingprogress in the field of biology more generally."
"The Academie des Sciences is particularly pleased to deliver, jointlywith the Royal Society, the first Microsoft European Science award," saidProfessor Edouard Brezin, president of the Academie des Sciences. "Today,computational sciences are of primary importance in all areas of science.Together with experiment, computer models are now able to provide informationwhich would not be accessible otherwise. This is exemplified in the beautifulwork of Dr Bray on bacterial chemotaxis."
Jean-Philippe Courtois, president of Microsoft International, said, "Someof the most innovative uses for software are developing at the intersectionof computing and the natural sciences. Private industry investment inscientific partnerships helps Europe stay competitive. Through this award andother programmes as part of the Microsoft European Science Initiative, we arehelping to support the work of leading European scientists, such as Dr Bray,to push the boundaries of science and computing."
Dr Bray will receive his award at a ceremony at the Royal Societytomorrow night (Friday 3 November).
The 2006 Royal Society and Academie des Sciences Microsoft EuropeanScience award was open to research scientists working in Europe at theinterface of the biological sciences and computing. In 2007 the award will beaimed at computing and the physical sciences, and the call for nominationswill be opened in December 2006.
About the Royal Society
The Royal Society is an independent academy promoting the natural andapplied sciences. Founded in 1660, the Society has three roles, as the UKacademy of science, as a learned Society, and as a funding agency. Itresponds to individual demand with selection by merit, not by field. TheSociety's objectives are to:
-- Strengthen UK science by providing support to excellent individuals -- Fund excellent research to push back the frontiers of knowledge -- Attract and retain the best scientists -- Ensure the UK engages with the best science around the world -- Support science communication and education; and communicate and encourage dialogue with the public -- Provide the best independent advice nationally and internationally -- Promote scholarship and encourage research into the history of science
About the Academie des Sciences
The Academie des Sciences, founded in 1666, one of the five Academies ofthe Institut de France, is an independent body. By virtue of itsmultidisciplinary approach and its interactions with other branches ofknowledge, its missions are to:
-- Encourage scientific life and contribute to progress in sciences and their applications; -- Formulate recommendations concerning problems of national or international interest related to sciences and their social implications; -- Develop international scientific relations, notably in Europe; Monitor the quality of the teaching of sciences; -- Encourage the diffusion of science among the public.
About Microsoft Research
Founded in 1991, Microsoft Research is dedicated to conducting both basicand applied research in computer science and software engineering. Its goalsare to enhance the user experience on computing devices, reduce the cost ofwriting and maintaining software, and invent novel computing technologies.Researchers focus on more than 55 areas of computing and collaborate withleading academic, government and industry researchers to advance the state ofthe art in such areas as graphics, speech recognition, user-interfaceresearch, natural language processing, programming tools and methodologies,operating systems and networking, and the mathematical sciences. MicrosoftResearch employs more than 700 people in five labs located in Redmond,Washington; Silicon Valley, California; Cambridge, England; Beijing, China;and Bangalore, India. Microsoft Research collaborates openly with collegesand universities worldwide to enhance the teaching and learning experience,inspire technological innovation, and broadly advance the field of computerscience. More information can be found at http://www.research.microsoft.com .
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq "MSFT") is the worldwide leader insoftware, services and solutions that help people and businesses realisetheir full potential.
About Microsoft EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa)
Microsoft has operated in EMEA since 1982. In the region Microsoftemploys more than 13,000 people in over 60 subsidiaries, delivering productsand services in more than 138 countries and territories.
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(1) Dr Bray will receive a trophy and 250,000 euro, of which 7,500 eurowill be prize money with the rest earmarked for research.
Web site: http://www.microsoft.com
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