The 2015 Colworth Medal was presented to Dr Helen Walden, a principal investigator at the University of Dundee MRC Protein Phosphorylation and Ubiquitylation Unit. Helen Walden is only the third female researcher to receive this accolade in its 52 year history. Helen’s research focuses on the understanding of a critical biological process called `protein ubiquitylation’. This plays a fundamental role in controlling virtually all aspects of biology. Helen has made a series of important discoveries in this research area that are of enormous relevance to better understanding of diseases such as cancer and Parkinson’s disease. She has been able to establish a growing international reputation as a leader in the ubiquitylation area and published numerous highly cited research papers in this area. In 2012, Helen also received a highly sought after young investigator award from the European Molecular Biology Organisation (EMBO). Helen completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Bath before moving to the University of St Andrews to undertake her doctoral studies. She then completed a postdoc in the laboratory of Dr Brenda Schulman at St Jude Children’s hospital in Memphis before establishing her own research group at the Cancer Research UK London Research Institute at Lincoln’s Inn Fields in 2005. In 2013 Helen moved her laboratory to its current location at the University of Dundee.