Cancer expert beats off stiff competition to win prestigious European award for achievement

Cancer Research UK scientist, Professor Ian Tomlinson, has won the European Voice “Achiever of the year” award, out-shining fellow nominees Sebastian Coe, Ellen McArthur, JK Rowling and German Chancellor, Angela Merkel.

Professor Tomlinson was awarded the title for his ground-breaking research in cancer genetics.

His work through the ‘Cancergenes’ project with Prof. Lauri Aaltonen of Helsinki has led to the discovery of a number of genes that predispose people to bowel and other cancers. Identifying these genes and understanding the role they play is important for finding new ways to treat the disease, but also for families that have a history of cancer. If people at increased risk of cancer can be identified, it may be possible to offer screening to help prevent the disease.

Every year, European Voice, the leading European weekly newspaper, casts a spotlight on 50 individuals who have most influenced the European legislative and political agenda. A distinguished panel of opinion leaders from across the EU – including three former heads of state – selected the nominees. The winners were chosen by the general public in an online poll and via paper ballot forms in the European Voice.

The “EV50 awards” were presented by the former European Parliament president, Pat Cox, at a gala ceremony at the Palais d’Egmont in Brussels on Tuesday 29 November.

Professor Tomlinson, who is based at Cancer Research UK’s London Research Institute, said: “It’s a great honour to have won this award. It shows the importance which people place on cancer research. Identifying the genes involved in cancer is key to understanding what’s going wrong to lead to the disease and developing new ways to prevent and treat it.”

ENDS

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