Ron Laskey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ron Laskey
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Prof Laskey (right) presented with the 2014 Cancer Research UK Lifetime Achievement Prize by Chief Scientist Nic Jones
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| Born |
Ronald Alfred Laskey
26 January 1945 |
| Education | Royal Grammar School, High Wycombe |
| Alma mater | University of Oxford (DPhil) |
| Spouse(s) |
Margaret Ann Page
(m. 1971) |
| Awards |
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| Scientific career | |
| Thesis | Application of cell cultures to the study of differentiation in Xenopus laevis : effects of the environment on the proliferation and behaviour of differentiating amphibian cells (1970) |
| Doctoral students | Richard Harland |
Ronald Alfred Laskey, born on January 26, 1945, is a famous British scientist. He studies cells and how they work, especially focusing on cancer. He has made many important discoveries in cell biology and cancer research.
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Ron Laskey's Science Journey
Professor Ron Laskey is a very important British scientist. He studies cells, which are the tiny building blocks of all living things. He also researches cancer, a disease where cells grow out of control.
He used to be a special professor at the University of Cambridge. This role was called the Charles Darwin Professor of Embryology.
Starting Research Centers
In 1991, Professor Laskey helped start a big research center. It was first called the Wellcome Trust/Cancer Research Campaign Institute. Now, it's known as the Wellcome Trust/Cancer Research UK Gurdon Institute. He started it with five other top scientists, including Professor Sir John Gurdon.
In 2001, he started another important place. This was the Medical Research Council Cancer Cell Unit. He was the Director of this unit until 2010. These centers help scientists learn more about cells and find new ways to fight cancer.
Professor Laskey is also a Fellow of Darwin College, Cambridge. This means he is a senior member of that college at Cambridge University.
Awards and Special Recognitions
Professor Laskey has received many important awards for his work. These awards show how much his discoveries have helped science.
- In 2011, he was made a Commander of the British Empire (CBE). This is a special honor given by the British Queen or King. It recognizes people who have made a big positive impact.
- He also received the Royal Society Royal Medal. This award was given for his "pivotal contributions." This means his very important work helped us understand how DNA copies itself. It also helped us understand how proteins move inside cells. His work even led to a new way to test for cancer.
- Another big award he received was the Cancer Research UK Lifetime Achievement Prize. This prize celebrates scientists who have spent their lives making huge differences in cancer research.
Key Awards and Honors
- 1984: Chosen as a Fellow of the Royal Society. This is a group of the world's most famous scientists.
- 1998: Won the Louis-Jeantet Prize for Medicine.
- 2000: Received the Tomorrow's World award for health innovation.
- 2001: Gave the Croonian Lecture, a very old and respected science talk.
- 2009: Awarded the Royal Society Royal Medal.
- 2011: Received his CBE in the New Year Honours list. This was for his great service to Science.
- 2013: Chosen as a Fellow of the Learned Society of Wales.
- 2014: Won the Cancer Research UK Lifetime Achievement In Cancer Research Prize.
Ron Laskey's Personal Life
Professor Laskey married Margaret Ann Page in 1971.
He has a fun and unique hobby. He writes, composes, and sings funny songs. Most of these songs are about science! He is known for his style, which is similar to the famous humorous musician Tom Lehrer.
Some of his songs have been released on records. These include "Songs for Cynical Scientists" and "More Songs for Cynical Scientists." There is also "Selected Songs for Cynical Scientists," which is still available today.
