HKUST president Nancy Ip wins Unesco prize for Alzheimer’s research

Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) president Nancy Ip Yuk-yu has been awarded a United Nations prize for her “outstanding contributions” in neuroscience, which have enabled the earlier diagnosis and better monitoring of Alzheimer’s disease.

Ip was presented with the Unesco-Equatorial Guinea International Prize for Research in the Life Sciences on Friday in Paris.

“Dr Nancy Yuk-yu Ip, president of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, is a world-renowned neuroscientist recognised for her outstanding contributions to neuroscience, which have advanced understanding of brain function and Alzheimer’s disease,” Unesco said in a statement.

It added that her research had led to the discovery of new biomarkers, the identification of genetic risk factors and the development of blood tests that enable earlier diagnosis and better monitoring of Alzheimer’s disease. She has also conducted pioneering research in gene therapy for neurodegenerative diseases.

“Many scientific breakthroughs are the result of cooperation, particularly interdisciplinary cooperation. I believe we should further strengthen cooperation across disciplines, universities and national borders,” Xinhua quoted Ip as saying.

“This will play an important role in developing medicines for diseases such as Alzheimer’s. We are currently working towards this goal.”

Ip is also a member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

The other two laureates are Professor Carlos Martin Montanes of the University of Zaragoza in Spain and Professor Adnane Remmal of Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University of Fez, Morocco. They were honoured for their major contributions to the development of a live attenuated vaccine against tuberculosis and the fight against antimicrobial resistance, respectively.

Established in 2008 by Unesco and funded by the Republic of Equatorial Guinea, the Unesco-Equatorial Guinea International Prize for Research in the Life Sciences aims to recognise individuals and institutions that have made outstanding contributions to improving the quality of human life through research in the life sciences, while promoting progress in the field and the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.