Dr Oliver Burton receives the RMS Award for Flow Cytometry

We are very pleased to announce Dr Oliver Burton as winner of the RMS Flow Cytometry Award.

Oliver has been a senior scientist at the University of Cambridge since 2023, assisting with research in the Liston-Dooley lab on topics such as regulatory T cell biology, neuroinflammation and T cell trafficking to tissues. In recent years, he has focused on technical development for the lab, sharing technical knowhow and tips for cytometry via an informal blog.

Flow cytometry has been central to Oliver’s research programme. He has consistently applied high-parameter cytometry approaches to dissect complex immune populations, enabling detailed characterisation of T cell subsets, regulatory networks, and tissue-resident immune cells. His studies have combined rigorous experimental design with advanced multiparameter analysis, contributing to high-quality, reproducible datasets that have informed both basic immunology and translational research.

Oliver has contributed to the wider adoption of robust cytometry practices within his research environment. His work exemplifies how flow cytometry can be effectively integrated with complementary approaches, including in vivo models and molecular immunology, to address biologically meaningful questions. Through his publications and collaborations, he has helped demonstrate the value of cytometry as a core tool in modern immunological research.

Oliver is recognised as a collaborative scientist who actively engages with multidisciplinary teams. His work has contributed to several high-impact immunology studies, and he continues to support the development of early-career researchers and cytometrists through supervision,  talks and tutorials with the flow cytometry community.

While his primary identity is as an immunologist rather than a technology developer, Oliver represents an important category of cytometry users whose work drives the field forward through application, innovation in experimental design, and biological discovery.