According to Professor Didier Trono, Dean of the Life Sciences Faculty at the EPFL, "Following the momentum created by the sequencing of the human genome and capitalising on new technologies of high throughput DNA analysis, the studies conducted by Dr Lluis Quintana-Murci teach us about the history of humanity and its struggles against pathogens. They suggest new therapeutic avenues for the control of infectious diseases."

"Receiving the Debiopharm Life Sciences Award encourages us to go further in our research on the correlation between genetic variation in human genes and our chances to develop an infectious disease. This information is critical to a more precise development of vaccines and therapeutics concerning these microbial sensors. Most importantly, this prize honours the field of human evolutionary genetics by recognising it as an indispensable complement to the clinical and epidemiological genetics of infection," added Dr Quintana-Murci.

About the Debiopharm Life Sciences Award

The Award was set up in 2006 to mentor and motivate young innovative European researchers in the field of life sciences. Criteria for applications include novelty and originality of the work, as well as its importance and significance in connection with targeted therapeutic fields.

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