Elisa Oricchio and Andrew Oates elected EMBO Members
Elisa Oricchio and Andrew Oates. Credit: Alain Herzog (EPFL)
The European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO) has elected 69 new life scientists to membership, joining more than 2100 of the best researchers in Europe and the world. Among the new members is Professors Elisa Oricchio and Andrew Oates at EPFL’s School of Life Sciences.
EMBO is an organization of more than 2,100 leading life scientists—including 92 Nobel laureates—in Europe and beyond. Its aim is “to support talented researchers at all stages of their careers, stimulate the exchange of scientific information, and help build a research environment where scientists can achieve their best work.”
Each year, EMBO elects new members who provide guidance and support for EMBO activities, e.g. by evaluating funding applications and by serving on the EMBO Council and Committees. This year's 69 new awardees are being recognized for demonstrating “…research excellence in their fields, ranging from RNA to plant biology, and from epidemiology to molecular medicine.”
Among the new EMBO Members are Professor Elisa Oricchio at EPFL’s Swiss Institute of Experimental Cancer Research (ISREC) and Professor Andrew Oates at the Institute of Bioengineering.
Professor Oricchio directs her lab within ISREC. Her research focuses on how genetic changes in cancer influence the 3D structure of chromatin and drive tumor growth. By combining genomic analysis of patient samples with functional studies in cell lines and animal models, they uncover how mutations exploit genome architecture to sustain cancer. Her work also uses patient-derived models to study tumor evolution, drug resistance, and the effects of targeted and immune therapies, aiming to develop more effective, personalized cancer treatments.
Professor Oates directs the Segmentation Timing and Dynamics Laboratory and currently serves as the Dean of the School of Life Sciences. His research explores the principles governing the emergence of spatio-temporal patterns in tissues. His lab includes biologists, engineers, and physicists who study the segmentation clock, a multi-cellular oscillator driving the formation of embryonic body segments in vertebrates. Using a combination of molecular genetics, quantitative imaging, and theoretical analysis, the lab aims to understand the interactions of noisy cellular oscillators and regulatory networks, shedding light on the mechanisms controlling the segmentation clock's dynamics and precision.
Fiona Watt, the Director of EMBO, says: “A major strength of EMBO lies in the excellence and dedication of its members. Science thrives on global collaboration, and the annual election of the new EMBO Members and Associate Members brings fresh energy and inspiration to our community. We are honoured to welcome this remarkable group of scientists to the EMBO Membership. Their ideas and contributions will enrich the organization and help advance the life sciences internationally.”