Equal doses of collaboration and independence - the right recipe for Edinburgh’s science couple
17 November 2010
A combination of collaboration and independence is the key for two of Edinburgh's most distinguished scientists. Husband and wife, Professors Ken and Noreen Murray both built pioneering careers in molecular biology and developed many of the tools used routinely today in the field, such as restriction enzymes and cloning vectors. Their landmark achievements, both individually and as a team, have won the couple recognition for their scientific careers. Ken and Noreen Murray were given the Nexxus Lifetime Achievement Award (East) in Edinburgh on 16 November.
Ken and Noreen first crossed paths at the University of Birmingham. They both pursued their PhDs in Professor David Catcheside's newly established Department of Microbiology where he brought together geneticists, microbiologists and biochemists. Ken's interest was in DNA and Noreen's in fungal genetics.
Before coming to Edinburgh, the Murrays pursued their own research interests during five years at Stanford 
University and then three years at Cambridge. When they arrived in Edinburgh in 1967, they joined the new Department of Molecular Biology created by Professors Martin Pollock and Bill Hayes, Ken as a faculty member and Noreen as a member of Bill Hayes' MRC unit.
Ken and Noreen began working with restriction enzymes - proteins found in bacteria that recognise and cut up foreign DNA as a defence mechanism. Many of these enzymes cut through DNA in specific locations, like molecular-sized scissors that only cut when they encounter a certain nucleotide sequence. This capability, they realised, could be turned into a tool for scientists trying to study DNA, as well as joining together different pieces of DNA.
Noreen manipulated restriction targets in the DNA of the lambda phage, a bacteria-infecting virus. Their work came together by using the restriction enzymes that Ken worked on to target the DNA inside these lambda viruses. The Murrays' work together on this project laid the groundwork for their creation of recombinant DNA molecules.
In 1973, they were amongst the first to recombine DNA in vitro - cutting out some segments of the lambda virus' DNA and inserting other DNA segments from different sources. This type of technology led to applications such as the production of insulin by bacteria for diabetics or the use of viruses as vectors to carry specific genes into cells. These molecular and genetic techniques that they pioneered have become tools used routinely today in laboratories around the world to perform scientific and medical research.
Their work together also provided a springboard for their individual careers. Noreen went on to research more about the lambda virus as a vehicle to deliver and clone genes. She is now considered by many in the field as the ‘godmother' of lambda vectors.
Ken became a founding member of the biotechnology company Biogen in 1978, and in the 1980s, his research on the Hepatitis B virus led to development of the first effective genetically engineered vaccine against Hepatitis B, now in widespread use around the world.
Noreen and Ken's careers in the life science sector have had immense local and global impact, from contributing to the growth of Scotland's life science sector to developing tools, techniques and treatments used by scientists and doctors the world over. It is for this work, both in collaboration and independently, that Ken and Noreen Murray were awarded the 2010 Nexxus Lifetime Achievement Award (East).
On accepting the award, Professors Ken and Noreen Murray said, "We are, of course, very pleased and highly honoured by this Nexxus Award, particularly because it is in recognition of our lifetime collaborative work. But we feel that it also reflects a much wider degree of collaborative activities.
"Edinburgh's new Department of Molecular Biology (the first in UK universities) headed by Professor Martin Pollock was greatly enhanced by the inclusion of Professor Bill Hayes and his MRC Microbial Genetic Unit and rapidly became an excellent centre for collaboration in teaching and research both internally (eg with Professor Bill Brammar) and with staff and students in several other departments at King's Buildings (eg Professor Ed Southern) and also in the medical school (Professor Barrie Marmion). Indeed many people working in other Universities were envious of a department of Molecular Biology. We feel very fortunate to have worked in such an inspirational and supportive environment. Indeed our careers have been devoted to work that would otherwise have been our hobbies; we are truly grateful to our many assistants, particularly Sandra Bruce, and collaborators over so many years, and are confident that the strong interdepartmental ethos of Edinburgh's Life Science groups augers well for the University, and indeed Scotland's future."
Nexxus Director Graeme Boyle said, "Ken and Noreen Murray are inspirations to us all. Their dedication and hard work have not only laid the foundations for many researchers to build on, but also greatly contributed towards establishing Edinburgh's reputation for scientific excellence. They've made towering achievements in their own careers and, as mentors and philanthropists, they've been of immense assistance in the further development of many of our local scientists and students."
The Murrays continue to be active on the Edinburgh life science scene both through their continued scientific work and their philanthropy. In 2009, Noreen joined the Advisory Panel of Edinburgh bioscience firm BigDNA, which designs and develops vaccines based on the lambda phage carrying DNA-based vaccines. Ken donated the substantial royalty earnings from the Hepatitis B vaccine to the Darwin Trust of Edinburgh, a charity the couple established in 1983 to support education and research in natural science. This Trust has provided funds to construct the Darwin Library, to contribute to building the Michael Swann Building, and provided numerous bursaries to support postgraduates and undergraduates from overseas to study in Edinburgh.
For further information contact Kate Fink, Marketing Communications Assistant, Nexxus T: 0131 200 6412, M: 0780-577-4824, E: k.fink@nexxusscotland.com.
