Breakthrough Prizes 24

The 2024 Breakthrough Prizes in the Life Sciences category recognized groundbreaking research set to change the lives of those suffering from three Rare Diseases: Parkinson’s disease, Cystic fibrosis, and Cancer.

Who were the scientists for Cancer Treatment breakthrough?

Carl June and Michel Sadelain

What was the cancer breakthrough?

Genetically engineered T cells with synthetic receptors recognize individual cancer cells, achieving remarkable success against liquid cancers such as leukaemia, lymphoma, and myeloma.

What is the impact of this breakthrough?

Impact: Some patients experienced complete tumour eradication and long-term remission after treatment.

Who were the scientists for Cystic Fibrosis breakthrough Treatment breakthrough?

Sabine Hadida, Paul Negulescu, and Fredrick Van Goor

What was the innovation for cystic fibrosis?

Invented the first effective medicines to treat the underlying cause of cystic fibrosis.

What is the impact of this breakthrough?

Medicines, including a triple combination, enable a protein to function properly, significantly improving the quality and length of life for people with this disease

Who were the scientists for Parkinson’s Disease breakthrough?

Thomas Gasser, Ellen Sidransky, and Andrew Singleton

What were their findings?

Discovered the most common genetic causes of Parkinson’s Disease, offering clues to the mechanisms that cause the disease, pointing to the role of the lysosome in neuronal damage.

When and by whom were the breakthrough prizes founded?

Founded in 2012 by Silicon Valley figures including Yuri Milner, Mark Zuckerberg, Priscilla Chan, and Sergey Brin.

What are the breakthrough prizes awrded for?

The prizes honour outstanding individuals who have made transformative contributions to fundamental sciences, including:

1. life sciences

2. mathematics

3. fundamental physics.

What is the monetary award?

Each recipient receives USD 3 million, surpassing the monetary value associated with Nobel Prizes

What is the significance of these awards?

Often dubbed as the "Oscars of Science," these awards hold significant prestige within the scientific community, highlighting groundbreaking discoveries and advancements.

What are some of the support prizes for Early-Career Researchers?

1. New Horizons in Physics and Mathematics

2. Maryam Mirzakhani New Frontiers Prize, recognizing the work of promising early-career researchers

How many rare diseases are there? Whom do they affect the most?

About 7,000 known rare diseases affect around 8% of the world’s population, with 75% of rare disease patients being children