Lausanne inflammation specialist wins Naegeli prize

Naegeli science prize-winner Walter Wahli's research has focused on proteins which stimulate skin keratinocytes. perso.wanadoo.fr

Professor Walter Wahli of Lausanne University's Biological Science faculty has been awarded the prestigious Otto Naegeli prize for 2002.

The Otto Naegeli prize is one of the most prestigious science awards in Switzerland and is given out once every two years, by the Bonizzi-Theler Foundation in collaboration with the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNF).

Wahli, who is also the university’s vice rector, won the SFr200,000 prize for his contribution to biomedical research on the healing of infected or injured tissues, otherwise referred to as inflammations.

He also helped to identify the PPAR beta protein in cells’ nuclei, which regulates the human body’s mechanism for healing wounds in the skin’s epidermis. The protein is responsible for the production of epidermal keratinocytes, which help the skin repair itself.

Wahli’s work also paved the way for the development of medicines to treat inflammatory disorders.

swissinfo with agencies