Prof. Peter Jones, Prof. Stephen Bailin and Prof. Andrew Feinberg will receive the Harvey Award in the field of science and technology for their contribution To diagnose diseases and develop treatments based on understanding the epigenetic mechanisms
The Technion will award the Harvey Award in the field of science and technology to Prof. Steven Beilin, Prof. Peter Jones and Prof. Andrew Feinberg for their groundbreaking research in the field of cancer epigenetics.
epigenetics It is a scientific field that focuses on changes in genome activity that do not depend on the DNA sequence. Epigenetics explains how identical DNA sequences may produce different behavior - a phenomenon that has profound implications for all aspects of health and illness. One of those epigenetic processes studied in depth by the three laureates is DNA methylation.
Methylation largely determines which genes will be silenced and which ones will be activated and lead to the creation of proteins. The correct methylation markers are essential for our health and affect embryonic development, cell division, cell health, responses to environmental changes and more. Disruption of the methylation process may lead to serious diseases including cancer, diabetes, heart disease, neurological disorders and autoimmune diseases.
The work, individually and jointly, of the three researchers revolutionized the understanding of the role of epigenetics in cell division and function. Their work, which combines epigenetics with discoveries related to genetic processes, changed the prevailing view of cancer development and disproved the theory that the development of the disease is driven by genetic mutations alone. Medical treatments based on the discoveries of the three in the field of epigenome are already saving lives today and improving the quality of life of patients. It is this connection between basic science and applied medicine that led to the decision to award the Harvey Award to Prof. Stephen Bailin, Prof. Peter Jones and Prof. Andrew Feinberg.
About the winners:
Prof. Steven Bailin, a professor of cancer research at the Sidney-Kimmel Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, was born in North Carolina and completed his BA and MD at Duke University. He specialized in research at the NIH and did his postdoc at Johns Hopkins. He is a member of the National Academy of Sciences in the USA and has won many awards including the Shubitz Cancer Research Prize from the University of Chicago, the Kirk Landon Award for basic research in the field of cancer from the American Association for Cancer Research and the Medal of Honor from the American Cancer Society.
Prof. Peter Jones from the Van Andel Institute in Michigan, was born in South Africa, grew up in Zimbabwe, and completed his doctorate at the University of London. He is currently President and Chief Scientist of the Van Andel Institute, where he deals with the relationship between DNA methylation, gene expression and cell division. President of the American Association for Cancer Research and a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American National Academy of Sciences, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the Academy of the American Association for Cancer Research.
Research Prof. Andrew Feinberg from the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine Born in Pennsylvania, he completed an MD in the Accelerated Program in Medicine at Johns Hopkins University as well as a Master of Public Health (MPH). He went on to a post-doctorate in developmental biology at the University of California San Diego, trained in medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and finally engaged in genetics research and clinical training at Johns Hopkins. He has won many awards and degrees including honorary doctorates from the University of Amsterdam, Uppsala University and the Karolinska Institute and the NIH Director's Award for Pioneering Scientists, a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and a member of the National Academy of Medicine.
Technion President Prof. Uri Sion He said that "The Technion awards the Harvey Prize to researchers whose work has made a significant contribution to humanity and human well-being. The pioneering work of the three researchers created a turning point in the study of epigenetics and revealed its vital influence on the normal functioning of the cell and the outbreak of diseases and their development, including cancer. Their research paved the way for the development of new approaches in diagnosis and acceleration the development of treatment methods based on an effect on the epigenetic mechanism."
The Harvey Award, the most prestigious award given by the Technion, was founded in 1971 by Leo Harvey (1973-1887), an industrialist and inventor, a devoted friend of the Technion and the State of Israel and their loyal supporters. It is awarded by the Technion every year for exceptional achievements in science, technology and human health and for a significant contribution to humanity. Over the years, the prize became a "Nobel predictor" because more than 30% of its winners went on to win the Nobel Prize.
The prizes will be awarded to the three winners in June 2025 at a celebratory event that will take place during the session of the Courtorion, the Technion's Board of Trustees, which will be held to mark the 100th anniversary of the opening of the Technion's gates.
More of the topic in Hayadan:
