Our congratulations to Ludwig Oxford Member Yang Shi, who was recognized by the ARC Foundation for Cancer Research with the 2025 Léopold Griffuel Prize for Fundamental Research for his contributions to the field of cancer epigenetics. Established in 1970 by the Association pour la Recherche sur le Cancer (ARC), now known as the Fondation ARC pour la Recherche sur le Cancer, the Léopold Griffuel Prize is among the most prestigious international awards honoring discoveries that have significantly advanced our understanding of cancer biology and treatment. This year, the award for Fundamental Research was shared by two laureates: Yang and Giacomo Cavalli of the Institute of Human Genetics, Montpellier, for their work in epigenetics. Yang is renowned for his discovery of LSD1, the first identified histone demethylase, and many additional demethylases in subsequent work. These discoveries fundamentally changed our understanding of gene regulation, demonstrating that histone methylation—a critical epigenetic process once thought to be irreversible—is in fact dynamic and reversible. His subsequent work has provided important insights into the mechanism of action of demethylases and their roles in physiological and pathological processes, including cancer. It also opened new approaches to cancer therapy, revealing how chromatin-modifying enzymes might be harnessed to improve immune responses to tumors.
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