Israeli geneticist wins prestigious int’l prize

20 January 2015, 4:05 pm

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Tel Aviv University geneticist Prof. Yosef Shilo will be among the recipients of the Norwegian Olav Thon award, Israel Radio reports.

Olav Thon was a mogul who decided to donate his assets to furthering scientific research.

Shilo will receive the Olav Thun medicine award for his research on the stability of DNA strings. Shilo studied a severe genetic disease and through his research achieved a better understanding of how cells cope with damage to the DNA in many other illnesses, like some cancers.

He will share the prestigious award with American scientist Prof. Judith Campisi. Each of them will receive an award worth NIS 1.3 million ($331,000). The awards will be given at a ceremony in Oslo later this year.