The goal of the Danone International Prize for Nutrition is to encourage and disseminate groundbreaking nutritional research which improves public health, by developing novel concepts in nutrition and advancing the frontiers of human nutrition. Today, these Prize is today recognised as one of the most distinguished scientific prizes in nutrition.

The Jury members agreed that Professor Auwerx’s research work on transcription factors is an outstanding contribution to scientific research on the effect of nutrients on cell metabolism and the consequences on metabolism, metabolic diseases and homeostatis. He was awarded the prize not only in recognition of the excellence of his research work, but also because he has opened new scientific avenues that will help us better understand and consequently better prevent the rising epidemic of chronic adult disease.

Although scientific work of Prof. Auwerx covers after his long-term research sphere of action more important topics and outstanding results, he was selected and awarded for Danone Nutrition Prize for his breakthrough findings in area of cell adaptation to their environment depending on what people eat, or if you like, findings on the principles by which cells react and behave according the nutrients’ orders, following them as instructions of hormones can be followed.

Professor Auwerx has generated an extensive bibliography. Professor Auwerx is the author of about 300 publications that have had a very significant impact on the scientific community, as attested by the particularly high number of citations by his peers—nearly 20,000. Almost 60 of his publications have achieved the benchmark of 100 citations, which means he can boast a remarkable h-index of 80.

Today, Professor Auwerx is awarded by Danone Insitute and Foundation for Medical research. He fulfils the same level of excellence that has been reached by the six previous awardees, Dr Friedman, Dr Barker, Dr Young, Dr Hallberg, Dr Sommer, Dr Bressani and underlines the innovative research and application in the field of health and nutrition day by day.

On behalf of Danone Institute International and the Prize Jury, I would like to congratulate Professor Auwerx on winning the 2009 Danone International Prize for Nutrition.