A University of Nottingham academic who played a pivotal role in the creation of the first cloned mammal has received one of the most prestigious scientific prizes in the world.
Professor Keith Campbell, who was instrumental in the creation of Dolly the Sheep, has been named joint winner of the 2008 Shaw Prize for Life Science and Medicine for his pioneering work in stem cell research.
The Shaw Prizes, known as the 'Nobels of the East', are made annually by the Shaw Prize Foundation in Hong Kong, in recognition of groundbreaking academic and scientific accomplishments. Each of the three award categories carries a $1m prize.
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Professor Campbell is the joint winner of the Life Science and Medicine Award, together with Sir Ian Wilmut, professor and director of reproductive biology at the Scottish Centre for Regenerative Medicine, University of Edinburgh; and Professor Shinya Yamanaka of the Institute for Frontier Medical Science at Kyoto University, Japan, who has been at the forefront of stem cell research.
Professor Campbell and Professor Wilmut worked together on the creation of Dolly the Sheep, born in 1996 - a breakthrough which paved the way for the successful cloning of many other mammal species. The Shaw Prize recognizes the three scientists' research into the 'reprogramming' of adult mammalian cells back into early stem cells, which have great therapeutic potential.
Announcing the awards, the Shaw Prize Foundation said the three scientists were being recognised for "€œ"€¦their recent pivotal innovations in reversing the process of cell differentiation in mammals, a phenomenon which advances our knowledge of developmental biology and holds great promise for the treatment of human diseases and improvements in agriculture practices.
"The landmark contributions by the scientists that are honoured with the Shaw Prize have"€¦ ushered in a new era in stem cell research, with huge potential benefits to mankind."
Professor Sir Colin Campbell, Vice Chancellor of The University of Nottingham, said: "Nottingham professor Keith Campbell, together with Sir Ian Wilmut - who is himself a Nottingham graduate - has today been acknowledged as one of the great pioneers in science and medicine worldwide.
"The Shaw Prize is immensely prestigious. It has established itself very rapidly as one of the most significant accolades in scholarship and research. This year the judges have recognised 'pivotal' innovation and rewarded Keith Campbell and his colleagues for the very great extent to which they have advanced our knowledge of developmental biology."
Established under the auspices of Mr Run Run Shaw, the Prize honours individuals who have achieved significant breakthroughs in academic and scientific research or application and whose work has resulted in a positive and profound impact on mankind.
There are three categories of award. The 2008 prize in mathematical sciences has been awarded jointly to Ludwig D. Faddeev and Vladimir I. Arnold, for their contributions to the field of mathematical physics. Mr. Faddeev is director of the Euler International Mathematical Institute, in St. Petersburg, Russia; and Mr. Arnold is chief scientist of the Steklov Mathematical Institute, in Moscow.
Reinhard Genzel, director of the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics, in Germany, receives the prize in astronomy for his contribution to the finding of a supermassive black hole, a few million times as big as the Sun, at the heart of the Milky Way.
The 2008 Shaw Prize award ceremony will be held in Hong Kong on September 9.
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Notes to editors: The University of Nottingham is ranked in the UK's Top 10 and the World's Top 70 universities by the Shanghai Jiao Tong (SJTU) and Times Higher (THE) World University Rankings.
It provides innovative and top quality teaching, undertakes world-changing research, and attracts talented staff and students from 150 nations. Described by The Times as Britain's "only truly global university", it has invested continuously in award-winning campuses in the United Kingdom, China and Malaysia. Twice since 2003 its research and teaching academics have won Nobel Prizes. The University has won the Queen's Award for Enterprise in both 2006 (International Trade) and 2007 (Innovation - School of Pharmacy).
Its students are much in demand from 'blue-chip' employers. Winners of Students in Free Enterprise for four years in succession, and current holder of UK Graduate of the Year, they are accomplished artists, scientists, engineers, entrepreneurs, innovators and fundraisers. Nottingham graduates consistently excel in business, the media, the arts and sport. Undergraduate and postgraduate degree completion rates are amongst the highest in the United Kingdom.