Franco-Canadian scientist Michel Sadelain was awarded an “Oscar of Science” in Los Angeles. His work has made it possible to develop a new form of therapy called CAR-T, which is very effective against certain blood cancers.
The Breakthrough Prize was launched by Silicon Valley entrepreneurs in the early 2010s to reward breakthroughs in basic research. It claims to be a sort of ‘Oscars of science’ and is today better endowed than the Nobel Prize. The research honored included effective drugs to treat the underlying cause of cystic fibrosis, a fatal lung disease, and the discovery of the most common genetic causes of Parkinson's disease. Around twenty other scientists were rewarded on Saturday during the breakthrough Prize, in different categories. The winner will share 3 million dollars with the American Carl June, an immunologist who also worked on the same subject as him. The prize was handed out at a glamorous ceremony bringing together big names in tech like Elon Musk and Bill Gates.