Congratulations to Dr Julie Crockett, a lecturer in the Musculoskeletal Programme, who has been awarded a Career Establishment Grant of 50,000 Euros from the European Calcified Tissue Society. The award was presented to Julie by ECTS President Prof Richard Eastell at the annual meeting of the Society in Barcelona in May 2008 and is intended to assist newly-appointed faculty members in launching a successful research career. Julie will use the funds to study how CCN proteins affect bone cells.