A prestigious award for research in rare diseases in Belgium
Aurore Delsoir
What is it about?
On 15 March 2024, the name of the Laureate of the sixth Generet Award has been announced. Congratulations to Professor Sabine Costagliola (Director IRIBHM, ULB) for her research on using human organoid technology to model rare thyroid diseases.
The Generet Award is one of the most prestigious awards in Belgium : 1.000.000 € is yearly granted for a top researcher in rare diseases. In this way, the Fund Generet aims to boost research into rare diseases in Belgium, and ultimately help boost the quality of life of patients and those around them.
The first Generet Prize was awarded in December 2018 to Mikka Vikkula (Institut de Duve – UCLouvain) for his research into the genetic causes of vascular anomalies. In early 2020 the second winner, neurologist Steven Laureys (Coma Science Group - University and UZ Liège), was awarded the Prize for his research into a variety of altered states of consciousness. In 2021 the Prize was awarded to Prof Pierre Vanderhaegen (VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain Research and ULB) for research into the genetic causes of rare brain disorders. In 2022, the honor fell to Rosa Rademakers (VIB - UAntwerpen) for her research on rare forms of frontotemporal dementia. In 2023, the Generet Prize was awarded to Ludo Van Den Bosch (VIB - KU Leuven) for his research on the underlying mechanisms and the role of HDAC6 in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS).
