One of 600 young scientists to encounter 43 Nobel Laureates

Dr Nicholas Clifton is among 600 young scientists worldwide invited to the 68th Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting, joining a record 43 Nobel Laureates from 24-29 June 2018.

Funded by The Waterloo Foundation, Dr Clifton is an Early Career Research Fellow in Cardiff University’s Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute (NMHRI).

With a background in Neuroscience (MSci, University of Nottingham) and Integrative Neuroscience (PhD, Cardiff University), his research aims to identify biological pathways contributing to psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

Using bioinformatics techniques to analyse large-scale genetic data in the context of protein function, Dr Clifton’s work has helped to link psychiatric disorders to discrete groups of genes responsible for brain development, learning and memory.

Dr Clifton is looking forward to representing his work and the NMHRI “This is a tremendously exciting opportunity to meet and learn from both Nobel Laureates and early-career researchers from all over the world. I thoroughly look forward to getting involved in the Meeting and contributing all I can. I am ready to be inspired.”

Professor Jeremy Hall, Director of the Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute offered his congratulations "Nick is an outstanding young scientist who has shown early independence and initiative, particularly in combining laboratory work with bioinformatics approaches to understand the brain and the causes of mental health problems."

This year’s meeting is dedicated to physiology and medicine and will focus on the key topics of the role of science in a ‘post-factual era’, gene therapy and scientific publishing practices. It will also set two records, with more Nobel Laureates than ever before at a medicine meeting taking part and a diverse field of participants spanning 84 countries of origin.

“This summer we will once again welcome the next generation of top researchers. I find it remarkable that we will bring together more than 80 nations in Lindau. It is particularly gratifying that 50 percent of the young scientists are women”, said Countess Bettina Bernadotte, President of the Council of the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings.

More than 130 academic partners worldwide nominated candidates for participation after internal application procedures. The six day programme will include masterclasses in which the young scientists present their research to the Nobel Laureates and their colleagues.

To find out more about the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting please visit, http://www.lindau-nobel.org/