Bart Loeys, specialist in Marfan and Loeys-Dietz syndromes, honoured with the "Belgian Nobel Prize": a first for rare diseases!


2020, GEMS / Wednesday, December 30th, 2020

December 16, 2020, Professor Bart Loeys, a pediatric cardio-geneticist from the University of Antwerp, a world-renowned specialist in Marfan syndrome and related diseases (such as Loeys-Dietz syndrome), Co-Chair of the Scientific Committee of the Fondation 101 Génomes and leader of the GEMS project, received from the hands of His Majesty the King the prestigious Prix Francqui 2020.

Co-winner. Professor Bart Loeys is the co-recipient, with Cédric Blanpain, of this prestigious prize, considered to be the Belgian Nobel Prize, which rewards exceptional researchers in their fields of research.[1].

Rare Diseases. From the prestigious list of laureates, it can be seen that Professor Bart Loeys is one of the few, if not the only, laureates whose award-winning work specifically concerns the field of rare diseases! 

Professor Bart Loeys is one of the world's leading specialists in Marfan syndrome and related diseases, such as Loeys-Dietz syndrome, which he co-discovered with Professor Hal Dietz.

Numerous newspapers reported that he was awarded the prize for " its clinical and translational research that has led to the understanding, diagnosis and treatment of human genetic diseases affecting blood vessels »[2].

This prize was therefore awarded for his research on Marfan syndrome and related diseases (such as Loeys-Dietz syndrome) that has contributed to the understanding of the genetic mechanisms underlying aortic disorders. Genetic mechanisms whose understanding could help prevent aortic ruptures, possibly even outside the field of rare diseases.[3].

Prestigious list of laureates. Professor Bart Loeys thus joins eminent laureates such as: Henri Pirenne, Christian de Duve,Ilya Prigogine, François EnglertMathias Dewatripont, Philippe Van Parijs, Olivier De Schutter[4] and that prestigious list goes on and on.[5]

The King's request. The award ceremony was held at the Palais des Académies in a very small committee and according to a very strict protocol because of COVID19 . During the ceremony Professors Bart Loeys and Cédric Blanpain had the opportunity to explain their respective research to His Majesty the King. The King then asked them if it was conceivable for them to work together on a common project. Professor Bart Loeys proposed to Professor Cédric Blanpain to put his expertise in the field of stem cells at the service of the GEMS project, . This gave Professor Bart Loeys the opportunity to explain the GEMS project to the King and Professor Blanpain. To be continued?

Bravo! For now, let's congratulate Professor Bart Loeys again. We look forward to the attention that this prestigious Prize may bring to research on Marfan syndrome and related diseases. Finally, let us hope that this Prize will succeed in convincing as many people as possible to financially support the involvement of Professor Bart Loeys in the GEMS project carried out by the 101 Genomes Foundation.

Congratulations Bart and thank you for your extraordinary work which nourishes the hope of the Marfan and related diseases families!

Ludivine & Romain

[1]       https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/2020/12/16/koning-filip-heeft-de-francqui-prijs-uitgereikt/

[2]       https://fondation-francqui.prezly.com/cedric-blanpain-et-bart-loeys-laureats-2020-des-deux-prix-francqui-collen-en-recherche-fondamentale-et-clinique

[3]       We'll read the jury report carefully: http://www.francquifoundation.be/new-page/prix-francqui/laureats/2020-rapport-jury-bart-loeys/

[4]       Henri Pirenne (Human Sciences - Philosophy and Letters), Christian de Duve (Biological and Medical Sciences - Physiological Chemistry - Biochemistry - Nobel Prize in Medicine in 1974), Ilya Prigogine (Exact Sciences - Chemistry and Molecular Physics - Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1977), François Englert (Exact Sciences - Theoretical Physics - Nobel Prize in Physics in 2013), Mathias Dewatripont (Human Sciences - Economics), Philippe Van Parijs (Human Sciences - Philosophy of Social Justice), Olivier De Schutter (Human Sciences - Governance Theory - International and European Human Rights Law, European Union Law)

[5]       https://www.francquifoundation.be/new-page/prix-francqui/laureats/

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