Press release
Dundee scientist recognised as one of Europe's top talents
Published on 23 November 2022
A University of Dundee expert has been named as one of the rising stars of European science.
Dr Mahima Swamy, from Dundee’s School of Life Sciences, has been chosen to join the prestigious EMBO Young Investigator network.
Based within the University’s Medical Research Council Protein Phosphorylation and Ubiquitylation Unit (MRC-PPU), Dr Swamy heads a research group that investigates the immune responses in the intestine and joins 23 other researchers to become a part of the network of 135 current and 390 former members of the programme.
She said, “I am really excited to be a part of this network and meet all the dynamic young scientists doing cutting-edge research across Europe. I believe that being a part of this esteemed group will help our research immensely, and I am very grateful to my lab and my mentors for the support that got me this award.”
A key part of Dr Swamy’s work is the study of inflammatory bowel diseases and how these can be prompted by the body’s immune system attacking the gut lining in the absence of infection. Research in the Swamy group aims to address how we can better harness the gut immune system to protect against harmful invasion, but also prevent it from damaging the gut.
The European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO) Young Investigator programme (YIP) supports the scientific endeavours of researchers who have become laboratory group leaders in the last four years. EMBO Young Investigators are selected by a team of EMBO Members for the high standard of their research and an excellent track record.
“It is marvellous news that Mahima has been awarded a prestigious EMBO YIP award,” said Professor Dario Alessi, Director of the MRC-PPU.
“It is well deserved recognition and a huge boost for the vital research that Mahima is undertaking on deciphering the biological roles of the enigmatic Intraepithelial lymphocytes that patrol the intestinal epithelium. Mahima’s work is contributing to improved understanding, treatment and diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease and colon cancer.”