The UK National Stem Cell Network (UKNSCN), on behalf of the country's stem cell research community, has warmly welcomed the awarding of the 2007 Nobel Prize for Medicine to Martin Evans
Martin Evans, together with his US-based colleagues Mario Capecchi and Oliver Smithies, pioneered the development of gene knockout technology.
This has allowed scientists to study human diseases in mice by making genetic changes to the animal's stem cells.
The technique has given scientists ways to study almost any aspect of mammalian physiology, including embryo development, ageing and disease.
Naren Patel, chair of the UKNSCN steering committee on which Evans sits, said: "The UK stem cell community owes a huge debt of gratitude to Martin Evans for his groundbreaking work.
"In gene knockout technology, he and his colleagues have given us a technique that allows us to study both normal mammal development and a wide-ranging of devastating human diseases.
"We warmly congratulate him on his scientific achievements and his recognition from the Nobel committee."
