Paris: Taiwanese genomicist Jason Tsai and French researcher Gianni Liti have been awarded the Franco-Taiwanese Scientific Grand Prize for their groundbreaking work on yeast evolution and genetic variation.
According to Focus Taiwan, the prize, co-founded by the French Academy of Sciences and Taiwan's National Science and Technology Council (NSTC), annually recognizes outstanding collaborative achievements in science and technology between Taiwan and France. Tsai, an evolutionary genomicist at Academia Sinica's Biodiversity Research Center, has focused on microbial adaptation and diversity through the study of ecology, evolutionary biology, and genomics. His team has identified nine pre-domesticated lineages of brewer's yeast in Taiwan's broadleaf forests, showcasing the island as a significant location for ancestral yeast diversity.
Liti, of the Institute for Research on Cancer and Aging, Nice (IRCAN), investigates the genetic basis of human traits, such as cancer susceptibility and aging, using budding yeast as a model. His research has considerably advanced the understanding of yeast origins, evolution, and domestication.
Tsai expressed to CNA that while yeast is widely used in brewing and baking and its molecular biology is understood, its role in nature is still unclear. He emphasized that his team aims to uncover yeast's function in the wild, which could have practical applications. "The next step is to complete this puzzle," Tsai said, referring to the migration and evolution of yeast before domestication.
The award ceremony in Paris was hosted by Chen Bing-yu, deputy head of the NSTC; Taiwan's representative to France, Hao Pei-chih; and Francis-Andr© Wollman, deputy head of international collaboration at the French Academy of Sciences. During the ceremony, Chen highlighted France's commitment to academic freedom and scientific excellence, while Taiwan focuses on long-term partnerships with France.
This year's ceremony was particularly notable as it marked the first award presentation since Taiwan and France signed a new cooperation agreement last year, underscoring the continuity of their partnership, according to Wollman. Hao remarked that the close scientific collaboration between Taiwan and France is rooted not only in their academic achievements but also in the deep and meaningful shared values within their societies.