Dr Giulia Rancati is one of two scientists based in Asia to win the prestigious award this year
Singapore, 9 November 2016 — Dr Giulia Rancati from A*STAR’s Institute of Medical Biology (IMB) has been awarded the prestigious European Molecular Biology Organisation (EMBO) Young Investigatorship in 2016. The Programme recognises the most outstanding and promising young independent scientists leading their first labs in Europe and EMBO cooperation partner countries. Further information on EMBO can be found in Annex A.
Dr Rancati was awarded the Young Investigatorship for her work on adaptive evolution in eukaryotes. Specifically, her lab looks at how eukaryotic cells are able to adapt to extreme environmental, genetic or chemical perturbations. Her work will not only add to the fundamental understanding of the design principle of a cell, but will also enable her team of researchers to treat pathogenic cells and prevent them from becoming drug resistant.
In October 2010, Dr Rancati joined the Institute of Medical Biology (IMB) under the A*STAR Investigatorship Programme, an initiative that supports and promotes early independence and career development of upcoming scientific research leaders. Her lab works on understanding cellular evolvability in mechanistic terms using a wide variety of model systems and a combination of cell and systems biology. Further details on Dr Rancati’s career and research focus can be found in Annex B.
Dr Rancati said, “I am extremely excited and honoured to receive this award as it will give me the possibility of translating our finding in mammalian cells with the final goal to find better targets for therapy.”
Mr Lim Chuan Poh, Chairman of A*STAR, said, “I congratulate Dr Rancati on her achievements and hope this award will spur her to continue her excellent work in A*STAR. Research, innovation, and enterprise are what will continue to drive Singapore’s future economy and help us sustain global competitiveness. The award not only recognises Dr Rancati’s contributions to the scientific community, it is also a testament to A*STAR’s commitment to nurture dynamic, young scientists who will drive the next level of growth and development in Singapore.”
Dr Rancati is also amongst three scientists outside of Europe and its neighbouring countries to be selected for the Young Investigator Programme (YIP) this year. She joins the ranks of four other researchers from A*STAR – Dr Bruno Reversade, Dr Florent Ginhoux, Dr Chiea Chuen Khor, and Dr Nicolas Plachta – who have been selected for the same award in previous years.
Encl: Annex A – Information on EMBO Young Investigator Programme
Annex B – Information on Dr Giulia Rancati’s career and research interests
For more information, please contact:
Ms Sunanthar Lu
Senior Officer, Corporate Communications
Agency for Science, Technology and Research
Tel: +65 6517 1966
Email: sunanthar_lu@scei.a-star.edu.sg
About the Institute of Medical Biology (IMB)
IMB is one of the youngest Biomedical Sciences Institutes of the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR). The Institute has a mission to study mechanisms of human disease, and works closely with clinical and industry partners to discover new and effective strategies for improving quality of life. IMB’s research focus areas are skin biology, genetic diseases and stem cell biology, and in 2013 IMB became a founding member of the Skin Research Institute of Singapore. IMB’s 22 mutli-national teams and their internationally-acclaimed group leaders pursue strategic research topics targeted at translational research into the mechanisms of human diseases, particularly skin disease, with a cell-to-tissue emphasis that can help identify new therapeutic strategies for disease amelioration, cure and eradication.
For more information about IMB, visit www.a-star.edu.sg/imb
About the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) The Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) is Singapore’s lead public sector agency that spearheads economic oriented research to advance scientific discovery and develop innovative technology. Through open innovation, we collaborate with our partners in both the public and private sectors to benefit society.
As a Science and Technology Organisation, A*STAR bridges the gap between academia and industry. Our research creates economic growth and jobs for Singapore, and enhances lives by contributing to societal benefits such as improving outcomes in healthcare, urban living, and sustainability.
We play a key role in nurturing and developing a diversity of talent and leaders in our Agency and Research Institutes, the wider research community and industry. A*STAR oversees 18 biomedical sciences and physical sciences and engineering research entities primarily located in Biopolis and Fusionopolis.
For more information on A*STAR, please visit www.a-star.edu.sg.
