Renowned French and Canadian scientist, Michel Sadelain, has been unveiled as a laureate of the prestigious Breakthrough Prize for his groundbreaking contributions to CAR T-cell therapy. This innovative therapeutic approach has exhibited remarkable efficacy in combatting hematologic malignancies, marking a significant advancement in the realm of cancer treatment.
In an interview, the 63-year-old visionary reflected on the arduous journey he undertook to genetically engineer immune cells for cancer combat. Throughout the years, Sadelain encountered persistent skepticism from his peers, with many dismissing his pioneering ideas as implausible. He recounted instances of grant rejections, uncertain career prospects, and a scarcity of graduate students willing to align with his unconventional research pursuits.
Carl June and Michel Sadelain created CAR T immunotherapy, modifying the body’s T cells to fight cancer. For this advance they are awarded 2024 Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences. https://t.co/uLhtm3bmHk@MSKCancerCenter @Penn @PennMedicine pic.twitter.com/p5qXOd8wty
— Breakthrough (@brkthroughprize) September 14, 2023
With his triumph now acknowledged by the Breakthrough Prize, Sadelain intends to celebrate with those who contributed to his scientific odyssey, emphasizing the collaborative nature of his achievements. He will equally share the substantial $3 million prize with American immunologist Carl June, who independently conducted pioneering research in the same field.
The Breakthrough Prize, often hailed as the Silicon Valley-backed counterpart to the Nobel Prizes, honors the world’s most brilliant intellects across diverse domains, encompassing life sciences, fundamental physics, and mathematics. Esteemed individuals like Sergey Brin, Priscilla Chan, and Mark Zuckerberg serve as its founding sponsors.
Sadelain’s academic journey began with medical studies in Paris and continued with an exploration of immunology in Canada. Subsequently, he embarked on postdoctoral research at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1989, a pivotal juncture in his career. During this era, the scientific community fervently pursued the development of vaccines aimed at instructing the immune system to recognize and combat cancer cells, akin to its response against foreign pathogens.
However, Sadelain diverged from conventional thinking, contemplating the direct programming of immune system warriors, particularly T-cells. His pioneering experiments, initially conducted on mice, led him to the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre in New York. There, he ingeniously devised a method employing a disabled virus to genetically reprogram human T-cells, enabling the growth of specialized antigen receptors resembling claw-like structures. These modifications empowered T-cells to selectively target and eliminate cancer cells, paving the way for the revolutionary CAR T-cell therapy.
This recognition of Michel Sadelain’s groundbreaking contributions underscores the transformative potential of his work in the ongoing battle against cancer, a testament to the enduring spirit of scientific exploration and innovation.
Source AFP
