M. Madan Babu facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
M. Madan Babu
FRS FRSC FMedSci
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![]() M. Madan Babu speaking at the Intelligent Systems for Molecular Biology (ISMB) conference in Chicago in 2018
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Born |
Mohan Madan Babu
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Alma mater | Anna University (BTech) University of Cambridge (PhD) |
Awards |
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Scientific career | |
Fields | Computational biology Systems biology Network biology Disordered proteins Regulatory genomics |
Institutions | St. Jude Children's Research Hospital MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology University of Cambridge National Center for Biotechnology Information |
Thesis | Evolution of transcriptional regulatory networks (2004) |
Doctoral advisor | Sarah Teichmann |
M. Madan Babu is a scientist from India and America. He uses computers to study biology, which is called computational biology. He works at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, where he leads a team that uses data science to make new discoveries. Before this, he was a leader at the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology in the UK.
Contents
Early Life and Learning
Babu grew up in Chennai, India. He became interested in computers when he was a young child. His father brought home a personal computer, and Babu started learning to program.
Discovering Biology and Computers
In high school, Babu learned about biotechnology. This field combines biology with technology. He earned his first degree from Anna University. There, he learned about computational biology, which uses computers to solve biology problems.
Studying at Cambridge
Later, Babu went to the University of Cambridge in the UK. He earned his PhD in 2004. His studies focused on computational genomics, which is about using computers to understand genes. His teacher was Sarah Teichmann.
Career and Scientific Work
After finishing his PhD, Babu worked as a postdoctoral researcher. He joined the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) in Maryland, USA. He worked with another scientist named Aravind L. Iyer.
Leading Research Teams
In 2006, Babu became a group leader. He worked at the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Cambridge, UK. In July 2020, he moved to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. He became a special leader in data science and director of a center for discovery.
What His Research Explores
Babu's research helps us understand how living cells work. He looks at how cells are controlled at different levels. This includes tiny molecules, whole systems, and even genes. He also studies how these controls affect how living things change over time.
His team especially studies two types of proteins. These are G protein-coupled receptors and intrinsically disordered proteins. They use both computer methods and lab experiments to learn more.
Role in Science Journals
Since 2020, M. Madan Babu has been the main editor for the science journal Molecular Systems Biology. This means he helps decide which research papers get published.
Awards and Special Recognitions
M. Madan Babu has received many awards for his important work. These awards show how much his research helps us understand biology.
- 2009: He became a young investigator for the European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO).
- 2010: He won the Early Career Research Award from the Biochemical Society.
- 2011: He received the Balfour Lecture award from the Genetics Society.
- 2011: He won the Molecular BioSystems Award from the Royal Society of Chemistry.
- 2014: He was given the Colworth Medal by the Biochemical Society.
- 2014: He won a research prize from the Lister Institute of Preventive Medicine.
- 2014: He received the Protein Science Young Investigator Award from the Protein Society.
- 2015: He was awarded the Francis Crick Lecture by the Royal Society.
- 2016: He was chosen as a member of the European Molecular Biology Organization.
- 2017: He became a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (FRSC).
- 2018: He won the Blavatnik Award for Young Scientists.
- 2018: He received the ISCB Innovator Award from the International Society for Computational Biology.
- 2019: He won the EMBO Gold Medal.
- 2021: He was elected a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences.
- 2023: He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society.