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Azim Surani in his lab at the Gurdon Institute

Azim Surani is the Director of Germline and Epigenetics Research at the Wellcome Trust/ Cancer Research UK Gurdon Institute.

Professor Surani receives the award alongside Davor Solter (Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics), “for their discovery of mammalian genomic imprinting that causes parent-of-origin specific gene expression and its consequences for development and disease”.

Together, the work of Solter and Surani contributed to the understanding of the developmental consequences and molecular mechanisms of genomic imprinting. In 1984, they released parallel studies demonstrating the concept that chromosomes retained a 'memory' of their parental origin, and Surani coined the term 'imprinting' to describe this. ‘Imprinted' genes are expressed only from either the maternally or the paternally inherited copy. Genomic imprinting has widespread roles in mammals, affecting embryonic and placental development and transmission of nutrients to the fetus, and regulating critical aspects of mammalian physiology.

Faulty imprints can lead to developmental, physiological and behavioural anomalies in mice, and result in diseases in humans. There is growing evidence for the importance of imprinting in disease susceptibility from developmental syndromes like Beckwith-Wiedemann, Angelman and Prader-Willi, to a variety of cancers and neurological disorders and obesity. It also has effects on diverse aspects of mammalian development and physiology, such as stem cells, core body temperature, nutrition and behaviour.

The scientists’ work is one of the key discoveries that started the field of epigenetics, the study of heritable changes in gene function without changes in the DNA sequence.

The laureates each receive a $100,000 cash honoriarium and are formally presented with their awards on October 25, 2018 at the annual Canada Gairdner Awards Gala in Toronto.

Date awarded

27 March 2018

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Azim Surani in his lab at the Gurdon Institute