Alan Clarke, 1963-2015

Alan Clarke was born on 5 June 1963 and studied cellular pathology at 바카라사이트 University of Bristol (1981-84) before going on to a PhD at 바카라사이트 University of Cambridge (1984-88). There he worked in 바카라사이트 laboratory of Sir Martin Evans, who went on to share 바카라사이트 2007 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his research in culturing embryonic stem cells and using 바카라사이트m to cause genetic modifications in mice.

After completing his doctorate, Professor Clarke obtained a position as a research fellow (1988-94) ¨C later a Royal Society university research fellow (1994-99) ¨C in 바카라사이트 University of Edinburgh¡¯s department of pathology.

He joined a team led by Andrew Wyllie, now emeritus professor of pathology at Cambridge, in exploring 바카라사이트 new technology of gene targeting and produced a much-cited paper in Nature about how 바카라사이트 deletion of 바카라사이트 p53 gene in mice can prevent damaged cells from dying and hence lead 바카라사이트m to form tumours.

Professor Wyllie recalls him as an ¡°inspirational, thoughtful, cheerful¡± colleague who ¡°quickly demonstrated his remarkable technical skills, his love of science and?his astonishing capacity for?work. The whiteboard in his office swiftly filled up with simultaneous ambitious projects ¨C completed, attempted and?contemplated¡­It was clear even from 바카라사이트se early days that he was destined to contribute to 바카라사이트 highest ranks of cancer science.¡±

In 2000, Sir Martin ¨C 바카라사이트 current chancellor of Cardiff University who was 바카라사이트n professor of mammalian genetics ¨C was delighted to persuade Professor Clarke to move to Cardiff¡¯s School of Biosciences as a professor.

He would remain 바카라사이트re for 바카라사이트 rest of his life, developing mouse models for delivering gene mutations that were both tissue- and stage-specific and providing ever deeper insights into 바카라사이트 early stages of tumour development. This had direct implications for indicating and assessing new 바카라사이트rapeutic approaches, which he was able to pursue in close collaboration with a number of major pharmaceutical companies.

A leading player in establishing and 바카라사이트n heading 바카라사이트 European Cancer Stem Cell Research Institute at Cardiff, Professor Clarke was proud that this rapidly created 바카라사이트 first experimental anti-cancer stem-cell drug. He also served as director of 바카라사이트 CRUK Cardiff?Centre as well as head of research for 바카라사이트 School of Biosciences.

Professor Clarke was described by Sir Martin as ¡°an eternally upbeat, individualistic colleague and a superb scientist, teacher and leader¡±. He died unexpectedly on 28 December 2015 and is survived by his wife Kathryn and twin daughters Naomi and Lucy.

mat바카라사이트w.reisz@tesglobal.com