Prize of the Fondation pour la Recherche Médicale 2025: four female laureates linked to Université Paris‑Saclay

Fondation Guillaumat-Piel Prize 1 - Véronique Minard‑Colin

Professor of paediatrics at Université Paris‑Saclay and head of the Immunotherapy programme within the Department of Paediatric Haematology and Oncology at Institut Gustave Roussy, Véronique Minard‑Colin was awarded the Fondation Guillaumat-Piel Prize 1 for her innovative work in the fight against paediatric cancers.

Her research focuses on two paediatric cancers: non-Hodgkin lymphoma and soft tissue sarcoma. In this context, she coordinates international clinical trials to evaluate new immunotherapies—treatments that modify the body’s natural immune response. She also leads the CRESCENDO programme, which aims to understand how paediatric cancers evade the immune system.

This prize, worth €40,000, comes from a bequest by Louise Guillaumat. It is intended to support biomedical research on childhood and/or blood diseases.

Jean‑Paul Binet Prize - Cécile Denis

Research director at Inserm and head of the Haemostasis, Inflammation, Thrombosis unit (HITh – Univ. Paris‑Saclay/Inserm) at Bicêtre Hospital, Cécile Denis was awarded the Jean‑Paul Binet Prize for her work on the mechanisms of blood clot formation.

By studying coagulation factors, her team uncovered the complex interaction between these blood components and the vessel walls. They highlighted the central role of one of these factors, called von Willebrand factor, in pathological processes such as strokes or certain inflammatory conditions, paving the way for the development of innovative therapeutic approaches.

The Jean‑Paul Binet Prize, worth €12,000, comes from a donation by Jean‑Paul Binet. It is intended to recognise work in clinical or experimental research on cardiovascular diseases or on xenografts.

Marie‑Paule Burrus Prize - Carole Escartin

Research director at CNRS and head of the Astrocyte Signalling in Physiology and Neurodegenerative Diseases team at the Institut des neurosciences Paris-Saclay (NeuroPSI - Univ. Paris‑Saclay/CNRS), Carole Escartin is the recipient of the Marie‑Paule Burrus Prize for her work on neurodegenerative diseases.

Carole Escartin studies the role of astrocytes, brain cells essential for neuronal function. In close contact with neurons, they finely regulate their activity. Her team has shown that certain molecular cascades regulating astrocyte genes affect neuronal function and survival in models of neurodegenerative diseases. She is now investigating the mechanisms involved under normal and pathological conditions to ultimately propose new therapeutic options targeting these pathways.

The Marie‑Paule Burrus Prize, worth €25,000, was established by Yves Burrus in honour of his wife, Marie‑Paule Burrus. It is intended to recognise a researcher conducting work on neurodegenerative diseases.

Jean Bernard Prize - Suzette Delaloge

Oncologist specialising in breast cancer and cancer prevention, director of the personalised prevention programme Interception at Institut Gustave Roussy, and alumna of Université Paris‑Saclay, Suzette Delaloge was awarded the Jean Bernard Prize for her initiatives in cancer prevention.

Her ambition is to establish individualised cancer prevention on a national and European scale by identifying people at increased risk and offering them tailored follow‑up to alter this trajectory. Her regular public appearances in the media and press aim to explain the public health benefits of this multidisciplinary preventive approach in addressing the ongoing rise in cancer incidence.

This prize was established in honour of Professor Jean Bernard, co‑founder of the Fondation pour la Recherche Médicale. It recognises a figure in the scientific community who has enhanced public knowledge in the field of health through the presentation of their research.