Stop TB Partnership

BioVision announces the winners of the 2011 BioVision -Lilly Award

6 April 2011 - Lyon, France - BioVision announced the winners of the 2011 BioVision Lilly Award in conjunction with TWAS, the academy of sciences for the developing world, at a special ceremony during the seventh World Life Sciences Forum.

The 2011 Award recognized four young scientists, living and working in developing countries, who have a track record of excellent research in the field of tuberculosis, and whose work promises to have a positive impact in the developing world.

The winners were selected from among 40 entries by an international jury of academics. The first- and second-place winners received funding to continue their research.

Dr. Digby Warner, Sr. Research Officer, MRC/NHLS/UCT Molecular Mycobacteriology Research Unit, University of Cape Town, South Africa was the winner of the 2011 BioVision Lilly Award, in conjunction with TWAS. Warner was honoured for his work on mycobacterial metabolism which promises to have a major impact on understanding the development of drug-resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Dr. Thomas Scriba, Senior Researcher, South African TB Vaccine Initiative, University of Cape Town was the first runner-up: Scriba was honoured for his work on TB vaccines.

Dr. Dihandenys Lemus, Tuberculosis National Reference Laboratory in Havana, Cuba and Professor Joy Sarojini Michael, Christian Medical College of Vellore, India won joint third prize. Dihandenys Lemus was honoured for her work in drug-resistant tuberculosis and Joy Sarojini Michael for her research in new TB diagnostics.