DSM is pleased to announce that the DSM Nutrition Award 2009 for research on Human Nutrition has been granted jointly to Michael F. Holick of the USA and Heike A. Bischoff-Ferrari of Switzerland for their seminal contributions to research on vitamin D and its role in human nutrition and health. Over the past decade the understanding of vitamin D has extended beyond its well established effects on bone metabolism to encompass vitamin D needs in the prevention of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome, immunological disorders and certain forms of cancer. DSM is proud to honor the achievements of these two eminent scientists in an area of research that DSM regards as being very important for human health.
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| From l. to r.: Mauricio Adade, Michael Holick, Heike Bischoff-Ferrari, Manfred Eggersdorfer |
Michael F. Holick has been given the award in recognition of his lifetime contribution to the basic understanding of the formation of vitamin D in the skin, the regulation of vitamin D absorption in the gut, and the metabolism and activation of vitamin D by liver and kidney. He also established the evidence that most human populations have a limited capacity to form vitamin D by sun exposure, thus resulting in a critical need for an adequate supply of vitamin D by diet and dietary supplements. Michael F. Holick is Professor of Molecular Medicine at the Boston University School of Medicine, Boston USA.
Heike A. Bischoff-Ferrari has been given the award in recognition of her significant contributions on the effects of vitamin D in the field of population health and her demonstration of a widespread vitamin D deficiency, particularly in the elderly. Already at this early stage of her career she has demonstrated the critical role of vitamin D in assuring muscle strength and bone health to prevent falls and fractures, thus redefining the vitamin D and calcium requirements of this growing segment of the population. Heike A. Bischoff-Ferrari has received a professorship from the Swiss National Science Foundation and is director of the Centre on Aging and Mobility at the Department of Rheumatology and the Institute of Physical Medicine, University of Zurich, Switzerland.
Award presentation
The award was presented to the winners by Mr Mauricio Adade, President Human Nutrition & Health – DSM Nutritional Products, and Dr Manfred Eggersdorfer, Senior Vice President Research & Development – DSM Nutritional Products, at the International Congress of Nutrition 2009 in Bangkok (Thailand) on 6 October. The cash prize of EUR 50,000 will be shared by the two awardees.
