NMHRI technician nominated for University's Excellence Awards

NMHRI Research Technician Craig Joyce has been nominated for the William O'Grady Prize for Technicians as part of the University's Excellence Awards.

Craig provides general technical support for the NMHRI laboratory and collects, cultures and banks hair and skin cells for NCMH and NMHRI study participants. They are then reprogrammed to become stem cells through a process called iPSC reprogramming, allowing other researchers to study how they develop and function as brain cells. 

"Craig is an extremely valuable member of the NMHRI technical team and I would like him to be recognised for the work he does." said Emma Dalton, NMHRI Laboratory Manager. "He shows great enthusiasm for department public engagement activities and visits (even dressing up as Dylan the Dragon!) and on a more serious note his lab work is moving the frontiers of Neuroscience and Mental Health research forward so we can grow stem cells from hair (rather than skin biopsy) and eventually reprogramme them to be neurones which will mean great improvement for understanding of treatments that can be developed."

The William O'Grady prize for trainee technicians was set up in 1981 from a bequest by Professor David Hughes, Microbiology.  The name was chosen to commemorate the late Mr W. (Bill) O'Grady of the Department of Plant Science who had served the college as a technician for over 50 years and had also served as the secretary of the Cardiff Scientific Society for over 25 years. 

A prize of £100 will be awarded to the technician who has demonstrated outstanding achievement in their training and development for their role.

Other nominees include Owen Deery (School of Medicine) and Steffan Jones (School of Engineering). The winners will be announced at the Awards dinner and presentation in November.