Fake news, whatever it may be, polarizes debate and fragments society. Sciences in general, and medicine in particular, are particularly exposed to these threats. This is why L’Express has placed the fight against medical and scientific disinformation at the heart of its DNA, wherever it comes from. Our ambition: to help our readers protect themselves against the misleading speeches of dream sellers. Whether it’s pseudotherapists, doctors or scientists who slip up or, as sometimes happens, laboratories which market untested, useless or dangerous products.
Because this fight against disinformation also involves upgrading the image of science, L’Express is also keen to highlight the successes and prowess of researchers. We already do this regularly through our articles, and we have now decided to go further, by organizing a dedicated event: the science & health personalities of the year prize.
For this first edition, our jury awarded the L’Express grand prize to the duo formed by Grégoire Courtine and Jocelyne Bloch. This neuroscientist and this surgeon are writing a new page in medicine. Their pioneering work, applied to humans for several years now, offers hope to millions of paralyzed people of one day regaining the use of their legs.
The price of prevention amounts to Suzette Delaloge, an oncologist from Gustave-Roussy who aims to help defeat cancer by preventing it from occurring or by treating tumors as early as possible, when it is still possible to cure them without after-effects. If the programs it is developing prove successful, a decisive step in the fight against this disease will be taken.
The price of research is awarded to another duo, Pr Marina Cavazzana and Karine Rossignol. The gene therapy pioneer and talent manager has launched a start-up that could facilitate the treatment of thousands of patients awaiting transplants.
Finally, the price of scientific truth reward Dominique Costagliola. Now an emeritus research director at Inserm, this renowned researcher has been committed throughout the pandemic to the defense of rationality, never hesitating to expose herself to denounce the excesses of Didier Raoult or the questionable choices of public authorities. Valuable frankness during this turbulent period, and beyond.
An article from the special health section to appear in L’Express on March 28.