2008-06-20 09:19:06 -
www.kyotoprize.org - Alarus Agency Leila Henry, 619-235-4542 Cell: 818-481-9467 leila@alarus.biz or Stephanie Kellems, 619-235-4542 Cell: 619-347-2715 skellems@alarus.biz The Inamori Foundation (President: Dr. Kazuo Inamori) today announced that Dr. Anthony James Pawson will be among the 24th annual laureates of its Kyoto Prize, an international award that honors significant contributions to the scientific, cultural and spiritual development of humanity.
This
year will mark the second time in the award's 24-year history that all three recipients are North American residents -- including the first Kyoto Prize laureates from Canada.
For 2008, the Kyoto Prize in "Basic Sciences" focuses on the field of Life Sciences: Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, and Neurobiology. Dr. Pawson, 55, a citizen of both Canada and the United Kingdom, will receive the award for his proposal and proof of the concept of adapter molecules, which has established one of the basic paradigms in intracellular signal transduction and contributed significantly to the subsequent development of the life sciences.
Dr. Pawson is a distinguished investigator at the Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute of Mount Sinai Hospital and a professor at the University of Toronto.
In the late 1970s, when Dr. Pawson was engaged in postdoctoral research, science offered limited insights about oncogenes -- the protein-encoding genes that, when mutated, participate in the onset of cancer. The molecular mechanism of intracellular signal transduction remained largely unknown.
In 1986, Dr. Pawson demonstrated that intracellular signaling proteins carry a domain with a unique modular structure, which he termed Src homology 2 (SH2), and that this domain is involved in intracellular signaling that facilitates cellular growth and differentiation. He recognized the importance of the protein carrying SH2 domain, which is responsible for transmitting commands that regulate cellular reproduction and metabolism.
Dr. Pawson discovered that oncogene products and signaling proteins share a common sequence consisting of about 100 amino acid residues, and that these proteins act as adapters in intracellular signal transduction, influencing the transformation of cells and the development of cancer-like cell behavior.
His discovery of the SH2 domain and identification of its role in intracellular signalling has revolutionized scientific understanding of the way in which cells communicate, impacting nearly every aspect of biomedical research -- including developmental biology, endocrinology, immunology, cancer research, cardiovascular research, neurobiology and hematology. Dr. Pawson's discoveries have also allowed for the development of new drugs that have been shown to halt the multiplication of certain types of cancer cells.
In addition to Dr. Pawson, this year's Kyoto Prize laureates include, in "Advanced Technology," Dr. Richard Karp, 73, a professor of electrical engineering and computer sciences at University of California, Berkeley, and senior research scientist at the International Computer Science Institute; and, in "Arts and Philosophy," Dr. Charles Margrave Taylor, 76, a philosopher and professor emeritus at McGill University of Montreal.
Each Kyoto Prize laureate will receive a diploma, a 20-karat gold medal, and a cash gift of 50 million yen (approximately US$460,000) during a week of ceremonies beginning November 9, 2008, in Kyoto. The laureates will reconvene in San Diego, Calif. March 18-20, 2009, to participate in the eighth annual Kyoto Laureate Symposium.
"It is my hope that the Kyoto Prize will encourage balanced development of both our scientific progress and spiritual depth, and hence provide impetus toward the structuring of new philosophical paradigms," said Dr. Kazuo Inamori, founder and president of the Inamori Foundation.
About the Inamori Foundation
The Inamori Foundation was established in 1984 by Dr. Kazuo Inamori, founder and chairman emeritus of Kyocera (NYSE:KYO) and KDDI Corporation. The Kyoto Prize was founded in 1985, in line with Dr. Inamori's belief that man has no higher calling than to strive for the greater good of society, and that mankind's future can be assured only when there is a balance between our scientific progress and our spiritual depth. An emblematic feature of the Kyoto Prize is that it is presented not only to recognize outstanding achievements, but also in honor of the excellent personal characteristics that have shaped those achievements. The laureates are selected through a strict and impartial process considering candidates recommended from around the world. As of November 10, 2007, the Kyoto Prize has been awarded to 74 individuals and one group - collectively representing 12 nations, and ranging from scientists, engineers and researchers to philosophers, painters, architects, sculptors, musicians and film directors. The United States has produced the most recipients (32), followed by Japan (12), the United Kingdom (nine), and France (seven).
Photos available upon request.
Canadian molecular biologist to receive $460,000 prize November 10
in Kyoto, Japan
