Biotechnology award nomination brings world spotlight to University of Suffolk

The Waterfront campus at the University of Suffolk in Ipswich Picture: GREGG BROWN

The RegMedNet Award for Cultivating Excellence (ACE) celebrates the work of regenerative medicine labs across the globe – and the Ipswich-based university is one of five short-listed as finalists.

It is one of only two UK-based finalists, the other being the Barker Lab at the University of Cambridge.

Deputy vice-chancellor Professor Mohammad Dastbaz said: “The short-listing of the Biotechnology Unit for the ACE [prize] is an outstanding achievement for the team. To be short-listed with such an eminent list of international research groups shows the excellent quality of work produced by our team.”

Dr Federica Masieri said the nomination had brought the university onto the world stage.

She added: “Seeing our lab name next to the other prestigious ones short-listed makes us proud and humble at the same time.”

Dr Aida Rajic, senior lecturer and course leader for BSc (Hons) Bioscience, who contributed to the submission, said “I cannot express the excitement for our lab being short-listed.

“This is the testimony of how impactful our work in regenerative medicine and life science is. We offer our student community the best educational experience.”

In a statement, RegMedNet explained the reasons the University of Suffolk was short-listed.

It reads: “The role played by their teaching and learning environment, with students as protagonists, has been the place where Team members continuously develop their career and expertise.

“The University of Suffolk plays a fundamental role and continuous effort at establishing and progressively consolidating a teaching and research platform in the area of regenerative medicine representing both an exciting and challenging endeavour for the Team.”