This year's Kyoto Prize for Sciences has been awarded to Director of Research at the Gurdon Institute, Professor Azim Surani. The Kyoto Prize is an international award of Japanese origin, given to individuals who have made significant contributions in the fields of science and technology, as well as the arts and philosophy.
Professor Surani demonstrated that in mammals, male and female genomes receive distinct “imprints” during each germ cell development and these genomes play complementary roles in embryogenesis. Genomic imprinting is a fundamental principle in life sciences that introduces a novel concept to Mendelian genetics. Its discovery represents a pioneering and foundational contribution not only to developmental biology and epigenetics but also to a wide range of life science fields including physiology, regenerative medicine, reproductive medicine, and plant science.
On his award, Professor Surani said: "I am deeply honoured to receive the prestigious Kyoto Prize. My work with my current and former research assistants, students, and postdoctoral colleagues has led to significant discoveries that have advanced our field. I take great pride in my alumni, many of whom have successfully established their own outstanding research labs and taken on leadership roles in diverse fields. Working alongside these talented young scientists has been a privilege and a continuous source of inspiration throughout my career. With this award, I acknowledge the contributions of everyone who has been part of my lab over the years."
Learn more about Professor Surani's groundbreaking research at www.gurdon.cam.ac.uk/kyoto-prize-win-for-prof-azim-surani