Antonio Lanzavecchia receives Louis Jeantet Prize for Medicine 2018
The prize is awarded to the emeritus of the D-BIOL (Institute of Microbiology) for his findings in the field of human immune response to infections and their importance in the development of vaccines. The second awardee is Christer Betsholtz (Karolinska Institut, Uppsala).
Antibodies are an extremely specific and powerful protection mechanism against invading pathogens (bacteria, viruses, parasites, etc.). Antonio Lanzavecchia's research laboratory has developed methods to isolate potent and broadly neutralizing antibodies against a variety of common and emerging pathogens responsible for life-threatening diseases (such as Ebola or Zika). This technology led to the surprising discovery of a new type of antibody specifically targeted against malaria parasites. This newly discovered mechanism of antibody diversification has a decisive influence on our understanding of the body's interaction with pathogens and on the development of new vaccines and antibody-based therapies.
Antonio Lanzavecchia will use the prize money to further research the new mechanism of antibody diversification. The award ceremony will take place in Geneva on Wednesday, 25 April 2018.
external page Website of the Louis Jeantet Foundation
(Text based on a press release of the Fondation Louis Jeantet.)