Karolinska Institutet recruits another international top scientist
The Swedish Research Council has decided on further financing within the program for international recruitment of leading researchers. A new grant now makes it possible for Karolinska Institutet to recruit the Spanish cancer researcher Dr. Óscar Fernandez-Capetillo. This is the fifth recent top recruitment to KI within the present program.
In May 2014, Karolinska Institutet was granted 522 Million SEK for the establishment of four research centers led by international top class scientists. In addition, the Swedish Research Council has now granted another 71 Million SEK for yet another recruitment.
Dr. Fernandez-Capetillo is focusing on developing cellular, chemical and animal tools for studying DNA repair in cancer and ageing, specifically focusing on investigating a type of DNA lesions known as replication stress (RS). In part due to his work, it is now well established that RS is one of the key sources of DNA damage that contributes to cancer and ageing.
“The recruitment perfectly fits the current major investment in molecular and translational medicine at KI and SciLifeLab.” says Hans-Gustaf Ljunggren, Dean of Research at Karolinska Institutet. “The profile of Dr. Fernandez-Capetillo synergies with current research groups in the area, and will strengthen the drug discovery environment at SciLifeLab and guarantee a long term critical mass for cancer research as well as academic drug discovery research at KI and in Sweden."
Óscar Fernandez-Capetillo, Senior Group Leader, Genomic Instability Group, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO), is a reputable international scientist in the area of cancer research, ageing, the DNA damage field and chemical biology. His work has been recognised through several national and international awards including the Eppendorf Award for Young Investigators.