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The Lundbeck Foundation Research Prize for Young Scientists goes to Robert Fenton

Robert Fenton from the Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, has been awarded the Lundbeck Foundation Research Prize for Young Scientists. The award is being made for his research within molecular cell biology.

In a short period of time, Robert Fenton has achieved scientific results that have helped to change the textbooks within his field. This is one of the reasons why the 39-year-old professor is receiving the Lundbeck Foundation Research Prize for Young Scientists.

Robert Fenton’s research focuses on epithelial cells – the cells that cover all of the body's outer and inner surfaces. His research interest focuses on specific proteins located in the epithelial cells’ membranes. If these fail to function, the result can be a number of diseases including high blood pressure, diabetes, epilepsy and osteoporosis.

Researcher with a global vision

He has been recommended for the award by dean of the Faculty of Health at Aarhus University, Allan Flyvbjerg, who sees Robert Fenton as a particularly well-qualified recipient of the award:

"Robert Fenton is an internationally respected young researcher who has shown himself able to collaborate nationally and internationally. He has also now established his own research group and taken responsibility for supervising and training a number of early career researchers. The awarding of the Lundbeck Foundation Research Prize for Young Scientists to Professor Fenton is only a recognition of his results. It also contributes to strengthening his continuing work and to keeping him at the very forefront of Danish medical research," says Allan Flyvbjerg.

The award is a personal prize of honour of DKK 300,000.

Particularly talented researcher

Robert Fenton leads his own laboratory with 11 Danish and international researchers. Here he has also trained and supervised more than 40 postdocs, PhD students and international visiting scientists. In addition, he manages the interdisciplinary pilot research centre Interactions of Proteins in Epithelial Transport at Aarhus University, which brings together research groups from different faculties to carry out research into membrane proteins. A better understanding of how these proteins work could lead to new treatment for diseases that are caused by disturbances in the functioning of membrane proteins.

Despite his qualifications, Robert Fenton is surprised to receive the Lundbeck Foundation Research Prize for Young Scientists.

"It’s a great honour for me that a major Danish research foundation sees my research career as being extraordinary. It’s evidence of the importance of our research, and not least for the young researchers in the team, who deserve some of the credit. With this award I join a group of young researchers who are seen as being particularly talented. I feel very privileged to be among them," says Robert Fenton.

Robert Fenton’s research has resulted in 110 scientific articles in high-ranking journals with strong impact (over 3,400 citations). On the basis of this he has already received several other international awards.

At the beginning of 2015, Robert Fenton was appointed professor at the Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University. Read more about the appointment.

Further information

Professor Robert Fenton
Aarhus University, Department of Biomedicine
Direct tel.: (+45) 8716 7671
Mobile: (+45) 2899 2149
robert.a.fenton@biomed.au.dk