Trinity professors Kingston Mills, Matthew Campbell and Luke O’Neill received awards from Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) at the virtual SFI Science Summit 2020 today.
Prof Mills, Director of the Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute (TBSI) and a professor of experimental immunology, won the SFI Researcher of the Year Award in recognition of his research accomplishments in 2020 and throughout his career.
“I am absolutely delighted to receive this prestigious award from Science Foundation Ireland,” remarked Mills in a press statement. “I have been committed to the fascinating field of immunology for nearly 40 years, but my research achievements would not have been possible without the financial support from SFI, the commitment and dedication of my research team and the support of colleagues, especially those at Trinity College Dublin.”
Joint winner of the SFI Early Career Researcher of the Year Award Campbell was recognised for his notable early career contributions to the field of neurovascular genetics.
“I’m delighted and honoured to be awarded SFI’s Early Career Researcher of the Year Award for 2020. This award is a testament to the group of scientists I work with and I’m delighted to accept it on their behalf”, said Campbell in a press statement. He added that SFI funding has been “fundamental” to setting up his lab in Trinity and supporting his research.
The SFI Outstanding Contribution to STEM Contribution Award went to O’Neill, chair of Trinity’s School of Biochemistry and Immunology. O’Neill’s more than 30 years as an immunology researcher made him an ideal candidate to communicate information about the coronavirus pandemic to the public via various radio and news platforms. In addition, his recently published book, Never Mind the B#ll*cks, Here’s the Science, has received praise for answering big scientific questions in engaging and accessible prose.
“I am very pleased to win this award,” said O’Neill in a press statement. “It’s the first I’ve won for science communication making it especially important. I encourage all scientists to engage with the public at whatever level they feel most comfortable. It is tremendously rewarding and worthwhile.”
In a press statement, Prof Mark Ferguson, SFI’s Director General and Chief Scientific Advisor to the Government of Ireland, congratulated the awardees on their “inspiring success and dedication.”
“The Science Foundation Ireland Awards recognise the expansive contribution that scientists make to our society and economy through innovative breakthroughs, industry collaborations, entrepreneurship, public engagement, and mentorship of the next generation,” said Ferguson.
On Monday, O’Neill was also awarded nearly €1 million from the SFI Frontiers for the Future Programme to continue researching the anti-inflammatory molecule itaconate.
Itaconate is being tested alongside other therapeutics for effectiveness against SARS CoV-2 as part of Trinity’s coronavirus research hub. Mills along with Prof Aideen Long of the Trinity Translational Medicine Institute (TTMI) are the lead investigators for the coronavirus research hub, which is a collaboration between 16 of Trinity’s leading immunologists, including O’Neill, funded by AIB and SFI.
In a press statement, Prof Ferguson commended Irish researchers for their collaborative efforts both in their regular research and during the pandemic.
“This year has been an eventful and challenging one for our research community,” he said. “I would particularly like to congratulate Prof Kingston Mills as our 2020 SFI Researcher of the Year. Well done to all. Working closely together, the Irish research community continues to be impactful, inspirational and world-leading.”
