International computing prize goes to UK scientist

A computational cell biologist from the University of Cambridge has won one of the largest international prizes in science, the Royal Society and Académie des Sciences Microsoft European Science award.

Computer modelling has allowed better understanding of bacterial chemotaxis

Dr Dennis Bray has won the 250,000 euro award for his research using innovative computer simulations of biological systems. His work focuses on the molecular systems that enable bacteria to detect and respond to chemical changes in their surroundings - a process known as chemotaxis.

Dr Bray said: “Bacterial chemotaxis is one of the few examples where we know all the individual components which dictate cell behaviour. Computer modelling allows us to look at how these sets of molecules, especially proteins, interact together to create a biological system and that’s why it’s so exciting.”

On a more general level Dr Bray is trying to demonstrate that when computer simulations reach a sufficient richness and accuracy they may be treated as experimental objects in their own right. These surrogate organisms can then be used to tackle problems that cannot be approached with existing technology and equipment.

Martin Rees, President of the Royal Society, said: “The interface of science and computing is challenging the frontiers of scientific knowledge and a growing number of sciences would not exist in their current form were it not for the power of computers now available.”

He added: “Dr Bray has been a tireless and influential advocate of the computational approach to living cells. His work demonstrates why computational biology will be essential for making progress in the field of biology more generally.”