Every two years, ISN identifies the two most promising young scientists they consider to have contributed the most significant research among its members across cellular and molecular neuroscience. Dr Mootaz Salman is the recipient of this year's International Society of Neurochemistry (ISN) and Asian-Pacific Society for Neurochemistry (APSN) Young Scientist Lectureship Award in the category of cellular neuroscience.
Dr Salman will deliver a lecture entitled “Defining mechanisms of blood-brain barrier dysfunction in dementia using advanced organ-on-a-chip models” at the ISN-APSN Biennial Meeting in Honolulu, Hawaii, USA at the end of August 2022.
On receipt of his award, Dr Salman said: “I am delighted to have received this prestigious international award, especially as, up to my knowledge, no one from the UK has been among previous recipients. It perhaps acknowledges some of the strengths of British Neuroscience, particularly at the University of Oxford and the Department pf Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics (DPAG) in the domains of physiology and cellular neuroscience, which I am proud to represent.
“Neuroscience research and working to identify new treatments for neurodegenerative diseases using innovative and cutting-edge technologies have been a passion of mine throughout my career. This success would not have been possible without my support network, encouraging mentors, friendly colleagues, and generous funding agencies, in particular the Leverhulme Trust and John Fell Fund. Thank you for having confidence in my abilities.
“I am grateful for all the wonderful professors who inspired me and led by example in my early years, as well as all the amazing colleagues, and others who I have been privileged to teach, collaborate with, and hopefully inspire.
“I'm honoured to present my work at the ISN-APSN Biennial Meeting this year. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to share my research work with the world."
Earlier this academic year, Dr Salman was awarded a Leverhulme Trust Early Career Fellowship to undertake a significant piece of publishable work as an independent researcher, and conferred the title of Departmental Research Lecturer in DPAG in recognition of his contribution to his research group and the teaching and research mission of the Department.