Lyon, April 12 2011 - BioVision has announced the winners of the 2011 BioVision Lilly Award in conjunction with TWAS, the academy of sciences for the developing world, on Monday March 28th during a special ceremony held during the 7th World Life Sciences Forum (Lyon, France).
The 2011 Award recognized 4 young scientists, living and working in developing countries, who have a track record of excellent research in the field of tuberculosis, and whose work promises to have a positive impact in the developing world.
The awards and certificates were presented by Mr. Bart Peterson, Senior Vice-President, Corporate Affairs and Communication, Eli Lilly and Company; and, representing TWAS and BioVision, Mr. Christian Grenier, CEO, BioVision.
“We have been impressed with the quality of the competition and especially the winners,” says Bart Peterson. “TB largely afflicts the developing world and I’m heartened to see that young developing- world scientists are taking their position at the forefront of global research being carried out into this debilitating disease.”
The winners were selected from among 40 entries by an international jury of world-class academics, chaired by Jacob Palis, President of TWAS, and Professor at the Instituto Nacional de Matemática Pura e Aplicada in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The first- and second-place winners received funding to continue their research.
Dr. Digby Warner, Sr. Research Officer, MRC/NHLS/UCT Molecular Mycobacteriology Research Unit, University of Cape Town, South Africa – Winner of the 2011 BioVision Lilly Award, in conjunction with TWAS: Warner is honoured for his work on mycobacterial metabolism which promises to have a major impact on understanding the development of drug-resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
Dr. Thomas Scriba, Senior Researcher, South African TB Vaccine Initiative, University of Cape Town – First runner-up: Scriba is honoured for his work on TB vaccines.
Dr. Dihandenys Lemus, Tuberculosis National Reference Laboratory in Havana, Cuba and Prof. Joy Sarojini Michael, Christian Medical College of Vellore, India – Joint third. Dihandenys Lemus is honoured for her work in drug-resistant tuberculosis and Joy Sarojini Michael for her research in new TB diagnostics.
TB is an airborne infectious disease. Globally, more than 9 million people became ill with TB and some 1.7 million died of the disease in 2009. The number of new cases arising each year is still increasing in the regions of Africa, Eastern Mediterranean and South-East Asia. If TB is detected early and fully treated, affected individuals cease to be able to infect others and can be cured.
About BioVision, the Lilly MDR-TB Partnership and TWAS
BioVision: BioVision engages key international leaders from different backgrounds in debates on global issues involving science and society. Every other year in Lyon, BioVision brings together government and business leaders, scholars, policy makers and NGO directors. Participants analyze scientific breakthroughs, pressing global challenges, discuss the most effective solutions, and build lasting partnerships that enable them to create positive social change. www.biovision.org
The Lilly MDR-TB Partnership
Recognizing that MDR-TB cannot be halted by medicine alone, Lilly created the Lilly MDR-TB Partnership in 2003. This public-private initiative mobilizes over 20 partners on five continents to tackle the scourge of TB and MDR-TB. Eli Lilly and Company is contributing US$ 120 million in cash, medicines, advocacy tools and technology to focus global resources on prevention, diagnosis and treatment of TB and MDR-TB. An additional US$ 15 million was given to the Lilly TB Drug Discovery Initiative; a non-profit with the goal of accelerating the discovery of new drugs to treat TB by bringing together specialists from around the world. The company has made this investment to ensure that thousands of MDR-TB patients receive the care and medication they need to combat this disease. www.lillymdr-tb.com
TWAS, the academy of sciences for the developing world is an autonomous international organization founded in Trieste, Italy in 1983. TWAS represents the best of science in the developing world. Its principal aim is to promote scientific capacity and excellence for sustainable development in the South. The administration and financial operation of TWAS is undertaken by UNESCO in accordance with an agreement signed by the two organizations.
www.twas.org
Contacts presse - ALIZE RP
Caroline Carmagnol // Anne-Sophie Cosquéric
+ 33 6 64 18 99 59 // + 33 1 42 68 86 41
aroline@alizerp.com // anne-sophie@alizerp.com
