Since its creation in 1954, the Gold Medal has been awarded to a scientist who has made an outstanding contribution to French research.
The year 2024 marks the 70th anniversary of the CNRS Gold Medal, one of the highest scientific distinctions, which has already been awarded to 78 researchers in a wide range of disciplines. For the past three years, the CNRS Foundation has endowed the medal with 50,000 euros.
This year, the CNRS Gold Medal was awarded to Edith Heard at a ceremony at the Maison de la Mutualité in Paris on December 12, 2024.
Edith Heard is Director General of the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) and Professor at the Collège de France. She is world-renowned for her pioneering work on the inactivation of the X chromosome, a process essential to the development of female embryos. Her research has revealed epigenetic mechanisms regulating gene expression, offering a new understanding of early embryonic stages and female biology. Her discoveries have revolutionized our understanding of epigenetics, which examines the way in which transmissible and reversible modifications can influence gene expression without altering the DNA.
Congratulations to the winner of the 2024 Gold Medal!
Frédérique PLAS / CNRS Images
