"Lasker Prize" greatly influences the winners of the Nobel Prize in Medicine and Physiology

Albert · Rasker Medical Research Award(Lasker Award) is the best American medicine award given to those who contributed in the medical field and is recognized as one of the most prestigious scientific awards in the world celebrating its 70th anniversary in 2015. Since it is often awarded the Nobel Prize after winning the Lasker Prize, it is a Lasker Prize also known as the "American version Nobel Prize", but in 2015 it is "a mechanism to repair cells that may be damaged and become cancer" Researchers who conducted the underlying research received the award.

The Lasker Foundation - 2015 Awards
http://www.laskerfoundation.org/awards/2015_b_description.htm

'American Nobels' awarded for cancer therapy and DNA damage discoveries | The Verge
http://www.theverge.com/2015/9/8/9277171/lasker-awards-recipients-dna-damage-cancer-nobels

Dr. Evelyn Witkin of Rutgers University in the United States of America and Dr. Stefan Elege of Brigham Obstetrics and Gynecologic Hospital are awarded the Albert · Lasker Basic Medical Research Award in 2015 with research findings that have found a mechanism to repair damaged DNA became.

DNA molecules in cells are routinely damaged by various causes such as metabolic activity and external factors, and it is known that damage occurs about 50,000 to 500,000 times per cell per day . Therefore, the mechanism for repairing damaged DNA "DNA repairIt is equipped with the process of DNA repair, which allows cells to continue to survive. If DNA repair speed can not keep up with DNA damage generation rate, aging and cancer will occur.


Dr. Witkin started research in 1941, when the concept of DNA was not yet accurately understood. In 1944 I found that several Escherichia coli strains showed strong resistance to ultraviolet light when examining cell changes by irradiating E. coli with X rays or ultraviolet rays at the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory in 1944 . There was little knowledge of DNA damage and repair process at that time and only 4 cells out of 50,000 cells survived due to too strong radiation dose.

Examining the surviving Escherichia coli, we found that it temporarily disrupts cell division and then divides again. This experiment revealed that SOS alert was issued when DNA was damaged and entered a special defense mode.

"At that time it was also said to be the golden age of genetic research, everything was done like a weekly discovery and it was full of excitement of research results," Dr. Witkin says.


Dr. Witkin discovered the reaction of Escherichia coli, after that, other researchers such as Dr. Elege researched the reaction called DNA repair, and research on the mechanism by which damaged DNA is restored has greatly advanced It was. It is now known that DNA damage is related to numerous diseases and symptoms such as cancer, aging, neurological diseases and immune abnormalities, but it has been greatly helped to understand these relationships by Dr. Witkin It is said that.

Dr. Witkin who was awarded the Albert · Lasker Basic Medicine Research Award this time because of his achievement, his research gives much knowledge to subsequent researchers and contributes to the development of medicine The fact that it became it is to say that it was something I had not expected and I am very honored.

2015 Lasker Awards: Stephen J. Ellation and Evelyn M. Witkin - YouTube


In addition to Dr. Witkin, he also contributed to the development of antibody therapy to release the suppression of the immune system against cancer against the Lasker-Dubekey clinical medicine research prizeJames P. AllisonDr. Mary · Woodard · Lasker Public Utility Prize Awarded Medical Assistance Activities to Ebola Hemorrhagic Blood OutbreakDoctors Without BordersHas won the award.

The Nobel Prize in Medicine and Physiology will be announced on October 5, 2015, and this year, a Nobel prize scholar may be born out of the Lasker Prize winners.