Pasteur-Weizmann / Servier Prize For Type 1 Diabetes Announced - Revolutionary Research Will Change Future Diabetes Landscape

The winners of the Pasteur-Weizmann / Servier International Prize in Biomedical Research (Therapeutics) have been announced. Exceptionally, there are two winners of this prestigious prize in 2006: George Eisenbarth, Executive Director of the Barbara Davis Center for Childhood Diabetes and Professor of Pediatrics, Medicine and Immunology at the University of Colorado, Denver, US and Lucienne Chatenoud, Professor of Immunology at the Hopital Necker Enfants Malades, Universite Rene Descartes, Paris, France.



Professors Eisenbarth and Chatenoud were selected for their outstanding contributions to fundamental research that has increased the understanding of the autoimmune mechanisms in type 1 diabetes (also known as insulin-dependent or autoimmune diabetes). In both cases, the research has the potential to offer a new therapeutic approach to the disease and transform the lives of millions of patients worldwide.



"The winners of this important prize have revolutionized the concept of the pathophysiology of type 1 diabetes and offer hope for the prevention and improved treatment of this condition in the future", says Professor Pierre Lefebvre, President of the International Federation of Diabetes and member of the independent prize selection jury.



The Pasteur-Weizmann / Servier Prize, given once every three years, focuses on medical themes of common interest to the Pasteur, Weizmann and Servier Institutes. The theme for the 2006 award is 'Diabetes and Autoimmunity: from fundamental mechanisms to therapeutic applications'.



George Eisenbarth



George Eisenbarth, awarded the 'senior prize' of €100,000, is an internationally-recognised pioneer in the fields of diabetes and immunology research with a long and highly distinguished career in advancing the understanding of the pathophysiology of type 1 diabetes. "Professor Eisenbarth is one of the 'greats' of diabetes research", says Professor Pierre Godeau, Chairman of the Scientific Committee of the Servier Institute. "His meticulous research over the last 25 years has shown us that, in genetically predisposed individuals, type I diabetes is an autoimmune disease that follows a defined path with a series of different stages. This important work has led to the development of a potential 'vaccine' against type 1 diabetes in high risk individuals. This work is still ongoing, but has opened up a number of research avenues for the prevention of the disease."



"Receiving this award is a great honour to me and all my research collaborators over the past years", says Professor Eisenbarth. "Type I diabetes is a huge global health problem and more research in this area is crucial. I believe it will be possible to develop an immunologic vaccine using response to insulin to prevent this disease and our work to achieve this aim will continue."



Lucienne Chatenoud



Lucienne Chatenoud is the 'junior' winner and recipient of €50,000. Although still young, she has made a huge contribution to the understanding of the autoimmune mechanisms involved in type 1 diabetes and has shown how immunotherapy with monoclonal antibodies can preserve residual insulin secretion in newly diagnosed patients with type 1 diabetes and reduce the need for injected (endogenous) insulin in these patients.
















"Professor Chatenoud is a brilliant immunologist whose work on CD3 monoclonal antibodies has recently shown how short-term treatment with these agents can prevent further decline of beta-cell function in recent-onset type 1 diabetic patients for up to 18 months", says prize judge Professor J-P Soulillou, Director of the Institute of Transplantation and Transplantation Research, Nantes University, France.



"Her work is an excellent example of how fundamental research can lead to new therapies for type 1 diabetics and exemplifies the philosophy behind the Pasteur/Weizmann / Servier Prize", adds judge Professor Pierre Freychet, Emeritus Professor of Endocrinology and Metabolism, University of Nice, France.



"I am delighted to have won this prestigious award and plan to continue my research in this area", points out Professor Chatenoud. "Given the very encouraging results we have obtained to date, we hope to achieve more widespread use of CD3 antibodies in type 1 diabetes patients in the near future."







Type I diabetes



Type I diabetes affects an estimated 4.9 million people worldwide, including 1.27 million people in Europe and the prevalence of the disease is increasing. A total of 430,000 children suffer from type I diabetes, making it the most common metabolic illness of childhood.



Type I diabetes is an autoimmune disease that leads to the failure of the beta cells of the pancreas to produce sufficient levels of the hormone insulin. This key hormone regulates the level of glucose in the blood and is essential for survival. Prolonged high concentrations of glucose in the blood are damaging to many of the body's systems and type I diabetes is associated with many serious complications.



Pasteur-Weizmann Council



The Pasteur-Weizmann Council, presided over by Professor Michel Goldberg, aims to develop the scientific collaboration between the Pasteur Institute and the Weizmann Institute in biomedical research. To achieve this aim, the Council sponsors research, educational grants, symposia and scientific exchanges.



The Servier Institute



Presided over by Professor Pierre Godeau, the Servier Institute aims to promote all forms of research and scientific knowledge for the purpose of medical progress and promotes scientific exchange between the medical community, the healthcare industry, universities and research organisations.



For further information please go to:
Institut Pasteur (French) And
The Servier Institute (English)