University Senior Lecturer Dr Cinzia Cantacessi is one of two winners of the inaugural Odile Bain Memorial Prize for early career scientists who have made an outstanding contribution to the fields of medical and veterinary parasitology.
The Odile Bain prize is sponsored by the open access journal Parasites & Vectors and the animal health company Merial. It is awarded in memory of Odile Bain’s outstanding contribution to medical and veterinary parasitology and her actions in encouraging productive collaborations among biologists, veterinarians, physicians, and fundamental and applied parasitologists worldwide.
Dr Cinzia Cantacessi is the winner of the Veterinary Parasitology category. She is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Cambridge's Department of Veterinary Medicine and receives the prize in recognition of her significant advances to the application of bioinformatic methods in parasitology, across a wide span of organisms of great impact for veterinary and human health.
Domenico Otranto, chair of the prize evaluation committee and Parasites & Vectors Advisory Board member says: “Over almost half a Century, the research of Odile Bain had a major impact on the scientific community. Her charming personality, infectious enthusiasm for the research and her supportive attitude towards early career scientists inspired the establishment of this prestigious Award to perpetuate her name. Undoubtedly, Odile represents a role model for young generations of scientists.“
The prizes were formally awarded during the joint meeting of the Irish Society of Parasitology/British Association for Veterinary Parasitology/European Veterinary Parasitology College at University College Dublin this week.
Dr Cinzia Cantacessi says: “I feel extremely honoured and privileged to represent a generation of young parasitologists whose remarkable work keeps our discipline at the forefront of biomedical research. Truly dedicated mentors like Odile Bain have contributed to shape and inspire us all.”
The other scientist recognised was Dr Stefanie Knopp, winner of the Medical Parasitology category. She is a postdoctoral researcher at the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute in Basel, Switzerland and at the Natural History Museum in London.
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