Laura Lorenzo-Orts awarded Early Career Research Award by the Biochemical Society

Dr Laura Lorenzo-Orts, a Group Leader at the Institute of Molecular Biology (IMB) in Mainz, Germany, has been awarded the Biochemical Society’s Early Career Research Award. The award recognises early-career researchers with the potential to achieve world-leading status for their high-impact work in the molecular biosciences.

Laura’s research investigates the intricate mechanisms that activate mRNA translation at the very beginning of embryonic development, when the fertilised egg cell (oocyte) transitions into an embryo and begins expressing its own genes. To support this crucial process, oocytes are equipped with a stockpile of "maternal mRNAs" – ready-to-go genetic instructions inherited from the mother. Precise timing is essential: if these maternal mRNAs are activated too early, development can be disrupted. Embryos have therefore evolved sophisticated strategies to keep mRNAs silent until after fertilisation. 

Despite the importance of this activation step, the mechanisms that trigger it remain poorly understood. At IMB, Laura’s newly established lab aims to uncover how this mRNA activation occurs. Laura says, “As my research lies at the intersection of biochemistry and developmental biology, I have often felt like an outsider when attending conferences dedicated to either of these subjects. This award validates the research I am passionate about and encourages me to continue integrating these approaches to elucidate the intricate molecular mechanisms that govern early development in my own group.”

Laura believes that understanding these regulatory mechanisms is likely to also reveal new insights into how mRNAs are controlled in ageing and disease, where similar mechanisms are likely to operate. 

Founded more than 100 years ago, the Biochemical Society promotes the molecular biosciences and supports scientists at all career stages. The Early Career Research Award is presented each year to two to four scientists based on the impact of their work. This year, Laura was one of three researchers to win the award. 

As part of the award, Laura will receive a travel grant, a medal and the opportunity to present a lecture at one of the Society’s upcoming events. She will also be invited to submit an article to one of the Society’s journals. 

IMB congratulates Laura on her outstanding achievement.

_{Further details}

_{Further information can be found at www.biochemistry.org/grants-and-awards/awards/awards-listing/early-career-research-awards} 

_{Laura Lorenzo-Orts is a Group Leader at the Institute of Molecular Biology (IMB) in Mainz. Further information about research in the Lorenzo-Orts lab can be found at www.imb.de/lorenzo-orts.}

_{About the Institute of Molecular Biology gGmbH} 

_{The Institute of Molecular Biology gGmbH (IMB) is a centre of excellence in the life sciences that was established in 2011 on the campus of Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU). Research at IMB focuses on the cutting-edge fields of epigenetics, genome stability, ageing and RNA biology. The institute is a prime example of successful collaboration between a private foundation and government: The Boehringer Ingelheim Foundation has committed 154 million euros to be disbursed from 2009 until 2027 to cover the operating costs of research at IMB. The State of Rhineland-Palatinate has provided approximately 50 million euros for the construction of a state-of-the-art building and is giving a further 52 million in core funding from 2020 until 2027. For more information about IMB, please visit: www.imb.de.}

_{Boehringer Ingelheim Foundation}

_{The Boehringer Ingelheim Foundation is an independent, non-profit organization that is committed to promoting the medical, biological, chemical, and pharmaceutical sciences. It was established in 1977 by Hubertus Liebrecht (1931–1991), a member of the shareholder family of the Boehringer Ingelheim company. Through its funding programmes Exploration Grants, Plus 3, and Rise up!, the Foundation supports excellent scientists during critical stages of their careers. It also endows the prestigious Heinrich Wieland Prize and awards for emerging scientists. Additionally, it funds institutional projects combining AI and biomedicine, such as the AITHYRA institute in Vienna and a new research unit at the Center for Systems Biology in Dresden (BioAI Dresden). Other supported institutions include the Institute of Molecular Biology (IMB) in Mainz and the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) in Heidelberg, both in Germany.} 

_{Press contact for further information}

_{Dr Ralf Dahm, Director of Scientific Management}

_{Institute of Molecular Biology gGmbH (IMB), Ackermannweg 4, 55128 Mainz, Germany} 

_{Phone: +49 (0) 6131 39 21455, Email: press(at)imb.de}