4 Japanese Win Prestigious U.S. Lasker Awards
Tokyo, Sept. 10 (Jiji Press)--Four Japanese nationals have received the Lasker Awards, one of the most prestigious medical awards in the world. The Lasker Foundation of the United States on Wednesday awarded University of Tsukuba professor Masashi Yanagisawa, 66, who discovered orexin, a brain peptide, in 1998, for the basic medical research division. The discovery has significantly adv...
On September 10, the Lasker Foundation of the United States announced that four Japanese nationals have been awarded the prestigious Lasker Awards. The foundation's announcement highlights the significance of these recipients' contributions to the medical field.
University of Tsukuba professor Masashi Yanagisawa, 66, received the award in the basic medical research division. Yanagisawa, who discovered orexin, a brain peptide, in 1998, made a substantial advancement in the understanding of sleep and arousal mechanisms. His research on transgenic mice lacking orexin revealed behavioral abnormalities similar to narcolepsy, and his work led to the development of a fundamental treatment for the sleep disorder.
In a statement, Yanagisawa expressed his humility, stating that the honor is more than he deserves and that the recognition of his work in the sleep science field, which has not received much attention, is very encouraging.
Additionally, three researchers from Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., a Japanese pharmaceutical company, were honored in the clinical medical research division. They were awarded for their development of Hemlibra, a treatment for hemophilia A. The Lasker Foundation's recognition of these Japanese scientists underscores the importance of their work and the impact it has had on advancing medical knowledge and treatments.
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