Japanese Biologist Wins 2016 Paul Janssen Award

Professor Yoshinori Ohsumi from Tokyo Tech has been recognized for his research into autophagy.

AsianScientist (Jun. 14, 2016) – Yoshinori Ohsumi, honorary professor and leader of the Cell Biology Unit at the Tokyo Institute of Technology, is the recipient of the 2016 Dr. Paul Janssen Award for Biomedical Research. The announcement was made last week at the Biotechnology Industry Organization convention in San Francisco, California.

The Award for Biomedical Research honors the work of an active scientist in academia, industry, or a scientific institute who has made a significant, transformational contribution toward the improvement of human health.

Ohsumi was recognized for his discoveries concerning the molecular mechanisms of autophagy, a process by which cells degrade their own structures. Autophagy plays an important role in various cell events and diseases.

“As a basic biologist, I started autophagy research 27 years ago aiming to elucidate the functions and mechanisms of the cell at the molecular level. From the beginning, I never expected that my research would spread to medical fields or to drug discovery technology. So I am very surprised to have been selected for this award,” said Ohsumi.

“However, I am pleased and grateful to have this fundamental work be recognized as important even in the medical and pharmaceutical fields.”



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Source: Tokyo Institute of Technology.
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