Melody Swartz named MacArthur Foundation Fellow
© 2012 Creative Commons / Courtesy of the MacArthur Foundation
The fellowship, well known in the US, aims at promoting exceptionally creative and promising individuals in the arts, the sciences, and the humanities.
On October 2nd, EPFL bioengineer Melody Swartz was awarded a prestigious MacArthur Fellowship Grant for her innovative approach to furthering the understanding of tissue vascularization and the immune response to tumor invasion. An engineer by training, Melody Swartz applies an eclectic mix of methods to her research, drawing on techniques from cell biology, immunology, biotechnology, and biophysics. This year, she was the only one of the 23 recipients of the award to reside outside the US.
Melody Swartz’s research focuses on transport processes in the lymphatic system and the interstitial space, the portion of biological tissue not occupied by cells, and their implications in cell trafficking, immunology, drug delivery, and the progression and metastasis of cancers.
Every year, the MacArthur Foundation awards a $500’000 prize to a select group of nominees, chosen for their originality, their insight, and the potential for the fellowship to influence their future work. Among the recipients this year were a photographer, a stringed-instrument bow maker, and numerous scientists.