The 2023 Lasker Awards, often regarded as “America’s Nobel Prizes,” honored researchers for significant advancements in biomedical science. Key winners included:
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Albert Lasker Basic Medical Research Award: Dr. Emmanuel Mignot and Masashi Yanagisawa were recognized for their discovery of orexins, brain substances crucial for regulating the sleep-wake cycle. Their research has enhanced understanding of narcolepsy and led to new treatments for insomnia and narcolepsy.
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Lasker~DeBakey Clinical Medical Research Award: This award went to Kunihiro Hattori, Takehisa Kitazawa, and Tomoyuki Igawa from Chugai Pharmaceutical. They developed emicizumab (Hemlibra), an antibody for treating hemophilia A, which works by aiding the blood clotting process in patients lacking factor VIII.
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Lasker~Bloomberg Public Service Award: Actor Michael J. Fox received recognition for his advocacy in Parkinson’s disease research. His foundation has funded over $3 billion towards finding a cure, significantly advancing research in the field.
Each winner will receive $250,000, with the awards being presented on September 17 in New York City.
