In 1984, Frances Ashcroft discovered a protein (a tiny pore called an ion channel) that acted as the link between blood-glucose levels and insulin secretion. As a result, people with a rare inherited form of diabetes can now relieve their symptoms simply by taking an existing drug in pill form, rather than by daily insulin injections. The drug has improved their blood glucose control and so reduced the risk of diabetic complications, such as blindness and kidney disease. She is now studying why 25% of patients with this disease also have neurological problems, and continues to explore what goes wrong with insulin secretion in type 2 diabetes, which affects 336 million people worldwide.

 Every year, the L'Oréal Foundation sends a team to meet the new Award Laureates in their countries, to get to know them and to better understand their research and the environment in which they evolve. During these visits, video and photo portraits are created.  In November 2009, a team left for the Philippines ...

French daily Le Monde issues a very interesting portrait on Prof. Lourdes Cruz, 2010 Laureate for Aisa/Pacific. The special reporter, Annick Cojean, has spent several days with Prof. Cruz in the Philippines where she got to follow the Laureate in her daily activities and better understand what drives this incredible women  in her life. Prof. Cruz has actually led fascinating research in marine toxinology and...

Discover the 5 laureates of the 2009 edition of the For Women In Science programme that recognizes outstanding women researchers from the five continents, who have contributed to scientific progress. Meet Prof Athene Donald, 2009 Laureate for Europe,  in video and more...

Discover the 5 laureates of the 2009 edition of the For Women In Science programme that recognizes outstanding women researchers from the five continents, who have contributed to scientific progress. Meet Prof. Tebello Nyokong, 2009 Laureate for Africa & the Arab States,  in video and more...

Discover the 5 laureates of the 2009 edition of the For Women In Science programme that recognizes outstanding women researchers from the five continents, who have contributed to scientific progress. Meet Prof. Beatriz Barbuy, 2009 Laureate for Latin America,  in video and more...

Discover the 5 laureates of the 2009 edition of the For Women In Science programme that recognizes outstanding women researchers from the five continents, who have contributed to scientific progress. Meet Prof. Akiko Kobayashi, 2009 Laureate for Asia,  in video and more...