Dr Michael Batie, from the University of Liverpool’s Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, has been awarded a prestigious University Research Fellowship by the Royal Society.
The eight-year University Research Fellowships are highly competitive and awarded to outstanding early career researchers with the potential to become leaders in their field.
Dr Batie has received £1,868,733 to establish an independent research laboratory in the Department of Biochemistry, Cell and Systems Biology, where he will investigate how cells respond to changes in oxygen levels and other environmental stresses. By understanding these adaptation mechanisms, he hopes to uncover new insights into diseases such as cancer and neurodegenerative disorders, which could lead to improved treatments in the future.
Dr Batie said: “This fellowship provides an exciting opportunity to establish my own research group and pursue fundamental questions about how cells respond to stress. Our work will explore how RNA splicing is dynamically regulated when cells experience changes in oxygen levels and other environmental challenges.
“By uncovering these mechanisms, we hope to gain new insights into how cells adapt in both health and disease, laying foundations for future advances in areas such as cancer biology and healthy ageing.
“I’m delighted to receive a Royal Society University Research Fellowship and extremely grateful to the mentors, collaborators and colleagues who have supported me throughout my career at Liverpool. The University’s outstanding research environment and collaborative culture have played a crucial role in shaping my work and have provided the ideal foundation for establishing an independent research programme.”
Professor Pat Eyers, Head of the Department of Biochemistry, Cell and Systems Biology, said: “This is an outstanding achievement and richly deserved recognition of Michael’s vision, scientific creativity and research excellence to date. Royal Society University Research Fellowships are among the most prestigious awards available to early career researchers in the UK, providing exceptional long-term support for talented scientists to establish themselves as independent research leaders.
“Michael’s success reflects many years of outstanding scientific delivery, innovation and collaboration. Ultimately, this Fellowship is awarded in recognition of Michael’s outstanding vision and scientific delivery over many years of hard work supporting others in Liverpool. We are incredibly proud of his achievement and excited to welcome him to the Department as an independent Fellow.”
Sir Paul Nurse, President of the Royal Society, said: “I am delighted to welcome this latest cohort of University Research Fellows. These highly accomplished scientists represent the next generation of world-leading researchers. Supporting outstanding early career researchers to pursue ambitious and original ideas is essential to the future of science. The Royal Society is proud to provide the long-term funding and support that helps to nurture exceptional talent.”
The Royal Society is a self-governing Fellowship of many of the world’s most distinguished scientists drawn from all areas of science, engineering, and medicine. The Society’s fundamental purpose, as it has been since its foundation in 1660, is to recognise, promote, and support excellence in science and to encourage the development and use of science for the benefit of humanity.