Stylianos Antonarakis lauréat du William Allan Award 2019

L’American Society of Human Genetics (ASHG) a choisi de décerner son prix annuel, le William Allan Award 2019, au professeur honoraire de la Faculté de médecine Stylianos Antonarakis. Cette distinction, l’une des plus prestigieuses dans le domaine de la génétique, lui sera remise le 15 octobre à Houston (Texas), lors du congrès annuel de l’ASHG.

Établi en 1961, en mémoire à William Allan (1881-1943), l’un des premiers médecins américains à mener des recherches systématiques sur le génome humain et les maladies héréditaires, ce prix récompense des contributions substantielles et durables à la connaissance du génome humain.

«La carrière du professeur Antonarakis a accompagné les progrès en génétique humaine au cours des 28 dernières années», relève le professeur Haig H. Kazazian Jr., de l’Université John Hopkins, dans sa lettre de nomination.

Dans ses travaux, le professeur Antonarakis s’est intéressé notamment aux désordres de l’hémoglobine et aux bases génétiques du syndrome de Down.

«Cette distinction est amplement méritée, relève le professeur Emmanouil Dermitzakis. Elle nous remplit de joie et de fierté, nous qui avons été d’anciens assistants et collègues de Stylianos, et elle souligne sa contribution exceptionnelle à la science suisse, européenne et internationale.»

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The American Society of Human Genetics (ASHG) has named Stylianos E. Antonarakis, MD, DSc, professor and chairman of Genetic Medicine emeritus at the University of Geneva Medical School, the 2019 recipient of the annual William Allan Award.

The William Allan Award, which recognizes substantial and far-reaching scientific contributions to human genetics, was established in 1961 in memory of William Allan, MD (1881-1943), one of the first American physicians to conduct extensive research on human genetics and hereditary diseases. Dr. Antonarakis will receive his award, which will include an engraved medal and $25,000 prize, on Tuesday, October 15, during ASHG’s 69th Annual Meeting in Houston, Texas. He will present his William Allan Award address immediately thereafter.

Dr. Antonarakis’ life’s work revolves around understanding the human genome and the relation of its variation with the numerous mendelian and polygenic, complex disorders. “His career has mirrored the progress in human genetics over the past 38 years,” said Haig H. Kazazian, Jr, MD, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, in his nomination letter.

“This well-deserved honour by ASHG makes all of us former trainees and colleagues of Stylianos very proud, and highlights his exceptional contributions to Swiss, European and International science”, said professor Emmanouil Dermitzakis.

Dr. Antonarakis is a medical, molecular, and human geneticist, and a physician-scientist. He has extensively studied the relationship between genomic and phenotypic variation. His contributions to the field are focused on the genetic basis of Mendelian and complex genetic disease, chromosome 21 biology and Down syndrome, and the genetic factors underlying variation in gene expression and regulation. His work was done in both sides of the Atlantic, namely in Baltimore and Geneva.

Dr. Antonarakis has trained over 80 young scientists in his lab, and has developed a major clinical and laboratory center in Geneva, Switzerland. He has published more than 700 papers and reviews and is the co-editor of the textbook Genetics in Medicine. Among many accomplishments, Dr. Antonarakis served as the president of the European Society of Human Genetics (2001-02), and the Human Genome Organization (HUGO 2012-2017), was awarded the Society of Pediatric Research Young Investigator Award (1984), was elected a member of the Swiss Academy for Medical Sciences, and originated the World Down Syndrome Day. A longtime ASHG member, he also served on the Board of Directors (2011-13), and the Nominating Committee (1991-92, 2008).

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