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13 July 2004
The University of Strathclyde hosts this years only Scottish Fulbright scholar and the only winner in the field of Medicinal Chemistry.
James Crawford, a postgraduate researcher in the Department of Pure & Applied Chemistry, will be leaving Scotland shortly to carry out research on the chemistry of new anti-cancer drugs at the Scripps Research Institute, one of the largest, private, non-profit research organisations in the United States. Scripps is internationally recognised for its research into immunology, molecular and cellular biology, chemistry, neurosciences, autoimmune diseases, cardiovascular diseases and synthetic vaccine development. James will be working with Professor KC Nicolaou, one of the world's leading synthetic organic chemists.
Created in the aftermath of the Second World War through the efforts of US Senator J William Fulbright, for over 50 years the Fulbright Programme has been promoting peace and understanding through educational exchange. It is one of the most prestigious award programmes worldwide, operating in 144 countries and with 51 commissions. More Fulbright alumni have won Nobel Prizes than those of any other academic programme, including two in 2002.
James Crawford is the only Scottish award winner among this year's 23 British Fulbright scholars and the only winner in the field of Medicinal Chemistry.
Professor William Kerr, James PhD supervisor, comments: "The award of the Fulbright-AstraZeneca Fellowship to our student, James Crawford, is outstanding and very welcome news. This highly competitive award is fitting recognition of the talents of this young Scottish scientist, in particular, in the areas of Organic Synthesis and Medicinal Chemistry, and should further enhance his research endeavours on a national and international stage. Securing such sought-after international awards is indicative of the superb quality of students currently coming through undergraduate and postgraduate degree courses in Chemistry at the University of Strathclyde, and we look forward to students such as James competing for and securing equivalent fellowships throughout the coming years."
James Crawford says: "The award of the prestigious and highly sought-after Fulbright-AstraZeneca Fellowship is an honour of the highest level. Furthermore, I now have the incredible opportunity to further my research aims in Organic and Medicinal Chemistry at The Scripps Research Institute in San Diego, California one of the world's foremost institutes for research of this type. This has all only been possible due to the wonderful undergraduate training at Strathclyde and to the international-class research I have been engaged in at PhD level with Professors W J Kerr and K W Henderson. Obviously I am very excited about being awarded this fantastic Fellowship and to furthering my research career on this international stage but, as a Glasgow boy, I'm also looking forward to the prospect of living and working in a place like San Diego!"
James will carry out research into lomaivicins, a recently discovered family of molecules that display extraordinary anti-tumour and antibiotic properties. Through his Fulbright-AstraZeneca Scholarship James hopes to research the potential development of lomaivicin-based anti-cancer drugs.
Congratulating James on his award, Charmian Norman-Taylor, British Programme Manager of the US-UK Fulbright Commission, said: "We are delighted to be able to offer James an award. He meets all the criteria we look for in a Fulbright scholar: academic excellence, a strong sense of his social responsibilities, as evidenced by his teaching and community service work and a lively interest in the culture of his host country. We are sure that he will make an excellent ambassador for the Fulbright programme, for Strathclyde University and for Scotland."
This years UK Fulbright scholars this year come from a variety of disciplines, including Film, Journalism, Law & Diplomacy, Policing Research, British History, and Medicine.
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