Martin Stenmark / Karolinska Institutet
Gonçalo Castelo-Branco, associate professor at the Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics at Karolinska Institutet
The biologist, professor of Glial Cell Biology at Karolinska, was one of ten members elected for a term that runs from March to October in the Committee that annually chooses the winner of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.
The Portuguese Gonçalo Castelo-Brancoborn in Cantanhede, graduated in Biochemistry from the University of Coimbra, and professor at the renowned Karolinska Institute, in Sweden, was chosen for the Nobel Prize Committee in Physiology or Medicine.
The Committee is composed of five members and by the Secretary General of the Nobel Assembly, with members being elected for a three-year term. In each year, ten associate members are elected for a term that runs from March to October. This year, one of those chosen was Gonçalo Castelo-Branco, who has Portuguese and Swedish nationality.
“Sweden is a small country, but despite this, Karolinska’s investigation is largely internationally recognized. It is a scientifically inspired environmentor and productive process that we need to encourage”, said the professor, in July, in an article about his research on the institute’s website.
Speaking to the Lusa agency, the professor said he was “very happy” with this election, which he considered to be a “recognition of the investigation” which has been developing in recent years.
O Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine is awarded by the Nobel Assembly, which is made up of 50 professors from the Karolinska Institute and which meets five times a year to discuss the nominations, elect the Committee and, on the first Monday in October, decide by vote who will receive the prize.
The Nobel Prizes were created in 1895 by Alfred NobelSwedish chemist, engineer and industrialist famous for invention of dynamiteand were first awarded in 1901. The award consists of a diploma, a gold medal and a check for 11 million Swedish kronor, approximately one million euros.
The Prize was awarded to North American scientists Mary E. Brunkow e Fred Ramsdell and Japanese Shimon Sakaguchiwho received the award for work on peripheral immunological tolerancethe body’s way of helping to prevent the immune system from becoming imbalanced and attacking its own tissues instead of foreign invaders.
The only Portuguese person awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was António Egas Monizin 1949, who shared the prize at the time with Swiss Walter Rudolf Hess.
The doctor, surgeon and researcher, born in Estarreja, was nominated for the Nobel Prize three times for the development of arteriography, but would receive the prize for the controversial invention of the so-called prefrontal leucotomyalso known as lobotomy, which enabled the emergence of psychosurgery.
Insurance Congratulations
The President of the Republic, Antonio José Segurocongratulated the Portuguese scientist, considering that the distinction “honors Portuguese science”.
“The President of the Republic congratulates Gonçalo Castelo-Branco on his election to the committee for the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, a distinction granted within the scope of the Nobel Assembly of the Karolinska Institute, in a recognition of scientific merit and academic excellence of the Portuguese researcher”, says one published on the Presidency’s website.
The head of state considers that the choice of Gonçalo Castelo-Branco “for such a prestigious body of the Nobel system honors Portuguese science and highlights the relevant and quality of research carried out by Portuguese scientists in the most reputable international institutions”.
António José Seguro also wishes the “greatest hits for the work that he will now develop within the Nobel Committee, certain that it will continue to bring prestige to Portugal and the international scientific community.”
