Dario Alessi facts for kids

Dario Renato Alessi (born in 1967) is a British scientist who studies living things at a tiny level. He is a biochemist. He leads a special research unit at the University of Dundee in Scotland. His work helps us understand how our bodies work. It also helps us find ways to fight diseases.

Becoming a Scientist

Dario Alessi went to high school in Brussels. He then studied at the University of Birmingham in England. He earned his first degree in biochemistry in 1988. He then got his PhD in 1991.

After his PhD, he did more advanced research. This was at the University of Dundee from 1991 to 1997. In 2003, he became a Professor at the University of Dundee. In 2012, he became the Director of the MRC Protein Phosphorylation and Ubiquitylation Unit. This is a big name for a research group.

What He Researches

Professor Alessi's main goal is to learn more about how our cells work. He studies special signals that control proteins in our bodies. These signals are called "phosphorylation" and "ubiquitylation." Think of them like tiny chemical tags. These tags tell proteins what to do.

His research helps us understand human diseases. He looks at how changes in our genes can lead to sickness. His work aims to find new ways to treat Parkinson's disease. This is a brain disease that affects movement.

A big part of his research focuses on a protein called LRRK2. Changes in this protein can cause Parkinson's disease. Professor Alessi's team studies how this protein works. They hope to find ways to stop it from causing problems.

He also leads a special team called the Division of Signal Transduction Therapy Unit (DSTT). This team works with big medicine companies. They work together to find new medicines. These medicines target the protein signals he studies.

Professor Alessi has written many scientific papers. Other scientists often use his work in their own research. This shows how important his discoveries are in the world of science.

Awards and Honours

Professor Alessi has received many important awards for his work. Some of these include:

• The Colworth Medal (1999)
• The Philip Leverhulme Prize (2002)
• The EMBO Gold Medal (2005)
• The Francis Crick Prize Lecture (2006)

He was also chosen to be a member of several important scientific groups. These include the Royal Society of Edinburgh (2002) and the Royal Society (2008). These are very high honours for a scientist. In 2023, he received the Louis-Jeantet Prize for Medicine.

In 2023, he was also given the title of Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE). This was for his great contributions to medical research.