Belgian health prize goes to an American
The jury will be rewarding the American professor for his fundamental contribution to the research of metabolic diseases. “His research revolutionised what we know about the function, differentiation and pathophysiology of adipose tissue”, the jury stated. In short, this means that Professor Spiegelman has aided many scientific advancements concerning body fat.
Belgian also among winners
On the same day, Belgian Professor Patrice Cani will also be receiving a prize, namely the 2015 Award Credit for Medical Research. Prof Cani is an academic at the Francophone Catholic University of Leuven (UCL), and researcher at the Belgian National Scientific Research Fund (FNRS) and at the life sciences institute Welbio. He is being awarded for his research about bioactive fats and the origins of diseases related to obesity and diabetes. His lab will receive an annual sum of 150,000 euros for three consecutive years, with the possibility of an additional two-year extension.
Queen Mathilde will be bestowing the prizes on Thursday 23 April at 11AM, during an academic conference at the Brussels Academy Palace on the Hertogstraat.