Department of Pharmacology

Prof. Peter McNaughton becomes FMedSci
Our Head of the Department of Pharmacology, Prof. Peter McNaughton, has been elected as a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences for his contributions to Sensory Physiology, in particular Nociception. Many congratulations to him for this achievement!

Prof. Robin Irvine wins Dutch medal.
Congratulations to Prof. Robin Irvine, who has been awarded the Van Deenen medal by the Institute of Biomembranes in Utrecht. In honour of Prof Laurens L.M. van Deenen, pioneer in biomembrane research in the Netherlands, the Institute of Biomembranes annually awards this medal to a leading scientist in biomembrane research. With this medal Robin will follow in the footsteps of other scientific giants.

Pharmacology student wins Biotechnology YES competition
Congratulations to PhD student Alap Chavda (CWT lab) who was the leader of the University of Cambridge team that won this year's Biotechnology Young Entrepreneurs (YES) scheme. The team's hypothetical company Calvitium Solutions won the top prize of £1,000 for their business idea for a hair loss prevention product. The competition was judged by a panel of experts from academia and industry. The team also won the prize for 'Best consumer product'. The team will now represent the UK in the International Rice Business Plan Competition, which is taking place in Houston, Texas, in April.
Press release http://www.businessweekly.co.uk/biomedtech-/14905-bold-meets-bald-in-business-plan-competition
Team 'Calvitium Solutions': Left to right - Anastasiia Kamenska, Alap Chavda, Ajoeb Baridi, Liam Hurst, Linsey Porter. Image: Tim Gander 2012

Dr. Lora Heisler
Dr. Lora Heisler has been awarded a renewal of her Wellcome Trust Senior Fellowship in Basic Biomedical Science.

Lesley will help to shape education.
Dr Lesley MacVinish has recently been appointed as a Deputy Director of Education in Biological Science. Her role will be to support Dr David Good, the Director of Education in Biological Sciences, in delivering academic leadership of teaching in the Faculty of Biology. Lesley will have special responsibility for the Medical and Veterinary Science Tripos and she will combine this extra duty with her current role as a Senior Teaching Associate in the Department.