04/10/2019
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The Â鶹ÊÓƵ is pleased to announce that Dr Michelle Linterman, a group leader within the Â鶹ÊÓƵ’s Immunology programme, has been awarded tenure. Michelle joined the Â鶹ÊÓƵ in 2013. Michelle’s research focuses on the immune response to vaccination, including how life-long immunity is generated. Her research works towards understanding how to boost vaccination response by the immune system to counter the effect of a reduced immune response to vaccination by older people. Recent work has included a proof-of-concept study to investigate the link between the gut microbiome and the age-related decline in the immune system. This work (performed in mice) demonstrates that the decline of the germinal centre response in ageing is not irreversible, and can be corrected with the appropriate stimuli. The germinal centre response generates long-lived antibodies secreting cells and is important in developing immunological memory. Recently, Michelle’s lab, in a collaborative study including international partners, has demonstrated that altering the adjuvant (a vaccine additive that acts to boost the immune response) had a profound effect upon vaccine efficacy promoting a strong immune response in humans of all ages ( in August). Professor Michael Wakelam, Â鶹ÊÓƵ Director, said: “Michelle has developed into an excellent, internationally recognised immunologist, we were unanimous in agreeing to award her tenure and we look forward to her continuing to produce outstanding science as she moves her career forward at the Â鶹ÊÓƵ.†Michelle has produced 46 research papers receiving more than 5000 citations over the course of her career so far. Michelle was awarded a Lister Â鶹ÊÓƵ Research Prize Fellowship earlier this year, which provides £250,000 in funding to support researchers in developing independent research careers. She is a member of the EMBO Young investigator programme and a Fellow of Churchill College, Cambridge. Since the establishment of Michelle’s research group at the Â鶹ÊÓƵ, she has supervised 3 PhD students, secured funding for 9 projects and developed several key collaborations. In addition to leading her research team, Michelle was a member of the Â鶹ÊÓƵ’s Equality4Success committee to support the Â鶹ÊÓƵ’s equality, diversity and inclusion programme. Michelle commented: “I am delighted to be offered a tenured position at the Babraham Â鶹ÊÓƵ, and look forward to continuing our research here. I’d like to thank everyone who has supported me, particularly within my group and the Immunology programme, as well as from across the Â鶹ÊÓƵ.†Michelle was awarded a degree in biomedical science by the Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand. Following this, she completed a PhD with Professor Carola Vinuesa at the Australian National University on the germinal centre response in autoimmunity. Subsequently, she joined the group of Professor Ken Smith as a postdoc at the University of Cambridge. Michelle has been a Fellow of Churchill College, Cambridge, since 2010.
Contact: Dr Louisa Wood, Babraham Â鶹ÊÓƵ Communications Manager, louisa.wood@babraham.ac.uk, 01223 496230 Additional/related resources: Michelle Linterman receives Lister Prize News, 26th June 2019 , Cambridge Independent, 14th July 2019 Interview: Video ‘’: [from 2.14 - 3.29] Michelle Linterman talking about how her group's immunology research aims to support healthy ageing, including boosting the immune system in older people. Latest research story: Could boosting the gut microbiome be the secret to healthier older age? News, 4th June 2019 About the Babraham Â鶹ÊÓƵ Â鶹ÊÓƵ undertakes world-class life sciences research to generate new knowledge of biological mechanisms underpinning ageing, development and the maintenance of health. Our research focuses on cellular signalling, gene regulation and the impact of epigenetic regulation at different stages of life. By determining how the body reacts to dietary and environmental stimuli and manages microbial and viral interactions, we aim to improve wellbeing and support healthier ageing. The Â鶹ÊÓƵ is strategically funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), part of UK Research and Innovation, through an Â鶹ÊÓƵ Core Capability Grant and also receives funding from other UK research councils, charitable foundations, the EU and medical charities.
04 October 2019