Sir Paul Nurse Receives the 2010 Charlie Butcher Award

Nobel Laureate and President of Rockefeller University in New York, Paul Nurse, Ph.D. recently received the 2010 Charlie Butcher Award in Biotechnology for his work in the molecular mechanisms that control cell division and cell shape. This work has furthered our understanding of cell reproduction, growth and development, particularly in the area of cancer research.

Dr. Nurse received the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 2001 for his discoveries of key regulators of the cell cycle. He was also honored with knighthood in Great Britain for services in cancer research and cell biology. He will be returning to the United Kingdom to lead the U.K. Centre for Medical Research and Innovation and as president of The Royal Society, a fellowship of outstanding individuals who represent all areas of science, engineering and medicine.

The Charlie Butcher Award is named for the late Charles Butcher, a successful entrepreneur with a passion for science and innovation. Jane and Charlie Butcher supported the creation of the Butcher Symposium, which recognizes researchers who are leaders in their fields of expertise and who value cross-discipline approaches in their work. Jane has continued supporting these joint efforts.

As part of the Symposium, the Butchers support seed grants to fund interdisciplinary research projects. These seed grants have been incredibly important in fostering collaborations among CU scientists across all campuses. They have also provided generous support to the Colorado Initiative in Molecular Biotechnology and to the construction of the Jennie Smoly Caruthers Biotechnology Building.