Indian scientist honored as one of Europe’s top talents in biology

London, Dec 28 (IANS) An Indian scientist has been chosen to join the prestigious European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO) Young Investigator network, recognising her as one of the top talents in biology in Europe.

Dr Mahima Swamy, who hails from Bengaluru, is one of the University of Dundee’s most revered experts within their School of Life Sciences where she heads a research group that investigates immune responses in the intestine.

Based within the University’s Medical Research Council Protein Phosphorylation and Ubiquitylation Unit (MRC-PPU), Mahima joins 23 other researchers to become a part of the network of 135 current and 390 former members of the EMBO programme.

“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,” Mahima said in a statement.

A key part of her 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.

Her research aims to address how one can better harness the gut immune system to protect against harmful invasion, but also prevent it from damaging the gut.

The EMBO Young Investigator programme supports the scientific endeavours of researchers who have become laboratory group leaders in the last four years.

EMBO Young Investigators receive an award of 15,000 euros in the second year of their tenure and can apply for additional grants of up to 10,000 euros per year.

“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,” said Professor Dario Alessi, Director of the MRC-PPU, said.

“Mahima’s work is contributing to improved understanding, treatment and diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease and colon cancer.”