L’’Oreal Foundation, UNESCO to honour women in science

Professor Brigitte Kieffer

Designation: Professor, University of Strasbourg, France; Research Director, Institut de Genetique et de Biologie Moleculaire et Cellulaire (IGBMC), Illkrich, France; Scientific Director, Douglas Institute Research Center, McGill University, Montreal, Canada

Area of excellence – Neurobiology

Prof Kieffer is being honoured for her decisive work on the brain mechanisms involved in pain, mental illness and drug addiction. In 1992, she was the first to clone and isolate the gene for an opioid receptor in the brain that plays a key role in alleviating pain, a puzzle which scientists around the world had been attempting to solve for the previous 15 years. Her findings led the way to new treatments for fighting pain, addiction and depression.

Professor Laurie Glimcher

Designation: Stephen and Suzanne Weiss Dean, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, US; Provost for Medical Affairs, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, US.

Area of excellence – Immunology and Medicine

Prof Glimcher is a pioneer and leader in the field of immunology. She is being honoured for discovering key factors involved in controlling immune response (T-bet) in allergies and in autoimmune, infectious and malignant diseases. Her findings are paving the way for the development of new treatments for allergies, asthma, multiple sclerosis, childhood diabetes and cancer.

Professor Cecilia Bouzat

Designation: Member of the National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Buenos Aires; Professor, Universidad Nacional del Sur, Bahia Bianca; Deputy Director, Institute of Biochemical Research of Bahia Bianca (INIBIBB), Argentina

Area of excellence – Biophysics

Prof Bouzat is an international leader in neurotransmitter pharmacology. She is being honoured for her contribution to our understanding of how brain cells communicate among themselves and with muscles. Her discoveries enabled the identification of the communications problem between the brain and muscles that causes major neurological disorders. Prof. Bouzat’s work has opened the door to potential new treatments for Alzheimer’s disease, depression and certain addictive behaviours.

Professor Kayo Inaba

Designation: Professor, Graduate School of Biostudies, Kyoto University, Japan; Vice-President for Gender Equality and Director of the Center for Women Researchers, Kyoto University, Japan

Area of excellence – Immunology and Medicine

Prof Inaba is being honoured for her critical discoveries concerning the mechanisms triggered by the immune system when it is faced with a threat such as a virus or bacteria or by abnormal cells such as cancer cells. Specialised in the study of dendritic cells, Prof. Inaba was the first scientist to prove that these cells could be treated outside the body and then reintroduced into the organism to stimulate immune system response. Her discovery marked a turning point in cellular therapy and has already led to a new type of anti-cancer treatment.

Dr Segenet Kelemu

Designation: Director General, International Center for Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE), Nairobi, Kenya.

Area of excellence – Biology and Plant Pathology

Dr Segenet Kelemu is being honoured for her research on how microorganisms living in symbiosis with forage grasses can improve their capacity to resist disease and adapt to environmental and climate change. Her work is providing new solutions for ecologically responsible food crop production, especially by local, small-scale farmers.