Descroix-Vernier EthicScience Prize awarded

On February 2, 2023, the Pro Anima Scientific Committee and the Descroix-Vernier Foundation recognized three teams of researchers during a ceremony at Cercle de l’Union Interalliée. The Descroix-Vernier EthicScience Prize, formerly the EthicScience Prize, is awarded every two years. This year, a total of €110,000 was awarded, the highest amount awarded by a private fund to support non-animal research in France to date.

Dr Agathe Figarol, Institut FEMTO-ST, University of Franche-Comtéwon, won the Innovation category. She and her team are working on a tumor-on-chip project to fight glioblastoma multiforme, the most common and most aggressive brain tumor.
Dr Julien Marie and Sophie Léon, Cancer Research Center of Lyon, won the Development and Applicability category. Their innovative method makes it possible to maintain the biological integrity of tumors and cellular interactions ex vivo.
Dr Nicolas Aznar, Cancer Research Center of Lyon, won the Jury’s Prize category. He and his team aim to generate patient-derived organoid cultures with a standardized and more reliable approach to improve the development of antitumor drugs.

The next Descroix-Vernier EthicScience Prizes will be awarded in February 2025, with applications to open at the start of 2024.