We can add one more to the list.

'Enormous contributions'

A Malaysian scientist has been awarded the Francis Crick Medal and Lecture 2022 by The Royal Society, the UK's national academy of sciences that promotes, recognises, and rewards outstanding developments in science.

In a tweet, The Royal Society wrote that Dr. Serena Nik-Zainal, who is based in the UK, was recognised for her contributions to the understanding of the causes of cancer.

"The Francis Crick Medal and Lecture 2022 is awarded to Dr Serena Nik-Zainal for enormous contributions to understanding the aetiology of cancers by her analyses of mutation signatures in cancer genomes, which is now being applied to cancer therapy,” the Royal Society said a statement.

The Francis Crick Medal and Lecture 2022 is awarded to @SerenaNikZainal for her enormous contributions to understanding the aetiology of cancers by her analyses of mutation signatures in cancer genomes, now being applied to cancer therapy. #RSMedals https://t.co/0NzxwgtYhz pic.twitter.com/zVwspGgjaF

— The Royal Society (@royalsociety) August 24, 2021

According to a report The Star Online, The Royal Society did not mention the project that led to the recognition, but it could be attributed to her work on the MMRDetect algorithm classifier that detects genetic weaknesses in tumours.

For the recognition, Dr. Serena is set to receive a bronze medal and a prize money of USD2,750 (RM11,536) during her associated prize lecture in 2022.

Following the win, Dr. Serena took to Twitter to share her gratitude and to thank her team:

Wow!Thrilled & hugely grateful for this immense honour ?Francis Crick Medal & Lecture ?!Thank you @royalsociety⁩ !Thank you ? to all that have taught, supported, pushed & mentored me.So appreciative!My wonderful TEAM ?- this is for us!!1/ https://t.co/rRVqqZRDbG

— Serena Nik-Zainal (@SerenaNikZainal) August 24, 2021

The Francis Crick Medal and Lecture annually recognises excellence achieved within the field of biological sciences, with preference given to genetics, molecular biology, and neurobiology.

Not her first award

The Francis Crick Medal and Lecture 2022 is yet another feather in Dr. Serena's very decorated hat.

In 2000, she received a sponsorship by Petronas to complete her studies at University of Cambridge, and then earned a CRUK Advanced Clinician Scientist Fellowship in 2017.

In 2019, she won the Dr. Josef Steiner Cancer Research Prize – dubbed the 'Nobel Prize for cancer research' – for her breakthrough research in accelerating the holistic interpretation of the cancer genome.