Unprecedented honour for European stem cell research
Two European researchers have been honoured for their outstanding achievements in the field of stem cell research and regenerative medicine in this year’s ISSCR awards. Together with two other scientists from Japan and the United States, European Research Council (ERC) grantees Profs Christine Mummery and Cédric Blanpain will be awarded at the ISSCR’s hallmark annual meeting to be held 14-17 June 2023.
Extraordinary public service
Prof. Mummery (Leiden University Medical Center, the Netherlands) has won the 2023 ISSCR Public Service Award in recognition of her significant contributions to the fields of stem cell research and regenerative medicine. An internationally recognised scientist in cardiovascular biology, she has helped to increase our understanding of human cardiovascular development and disease. Prof. Mummery’s work on new human heart failure and vascular disease models received support from the EU-funded STEMCARDIOVASC project. Her research on assessing the toxic effects of drugs on the human heart was aided with funding from ACQUIRE, another EU-backed project. “Christine has made an enduring impact on the ISSCR, shaping the society and the field through her selfless dedication, leadership, and advocacy,” states ISSCR President Dr Haifan Lin in an ISSCR press release. “Among her many contributions, Christine is the founding editor-in-chief of our society journal, Stem Cell Reports, and is a past president of the society. An advocate of the global stem cell field, Christine’s tireless support of women scientists has built and bridged scientific communities around the world. It is my honor and privilege to recognize Christine with this prestigious public service award.”
Innovation
Prof. Blanpain (Université Libre de Bruxelles, Belgium) has received this year’s ISSCR Momentum Award for his innovative work establishing a highly promising area of stem cell-related research. His exploration of the mechanisms regulating tumour states responsible for tumour growth, differentiation, invasion, metastasis and resistance to anticancer therapy is supported by the EU-funded TrackingTumorStates project. Prof. Blanpain has also previously received two other ERC grants for his pioneering research on the cellular origin of different epithelial cancers and his work defining the cellular and molecular mechanisms regulating tissue expansion and cell fate decision during postnatal growth and repair of epithelial tissues. “Dr. Blanpain has greatly advanced our knowledge of tissue stem cells during development, homeostasis, and cancer, employing multidisciplinary and quantitative approaches,” observes Dr Lin in another ISSCR press release. “Mastering lineage tracing, he unraveled key roles for stem cell dynamics in epidermal homeostasis and cancer and exposed a novel paradigm of lineage segregation in the mammary gland and prostate. Cédric, congratulations on your impressive work and for earning this prestigious and well-deserved honor.” The 5-year TrackingTumorStates (Tracking and Targeting Tumor States at single-cell resolution in real time in vivo) project ends in 2025. STEMCARDIOVASC (Human Pluripotent Stem Cells: the new heart patient?) and ACQUIRE (Assessing cardiac Contractility and Quantification of Underlying mechanisms In vitro via Response in Excitation-contraction coupling) ended in 2018 and 2022, respectively. For more information, please see: TrackingTumorStates project STEMCARDIOVASC project ACQUIRE project
Keywords
TrackingTumorStates, STEMCARDIOVASC, ACQUIRE, stem cell, Christine Mummery, Cédric Blanpain, International Society for Stem Cell Research, ISSCR, regenerative medicine, cardiovascular, heart, tumour, cancer