On 3 March, the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences hosted the award ceremony for the 2021 Lithuanian Science Prizes. The event was attended by Ingrida Šimonytė, Prime Minister of the Republic of Lithuania, Prof. Jūras Banys, chair of the Commission for Lithuanian Science Prizes and President of the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences, Jurgita Šiugždinienė, Minister of Education, Science and Sports of the Republic of Lithuania, the laureates, members of the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences, and other guests.
In the field of biomedical and agricultural sciences, the prize was also awarded to the members of the Young Academy of the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences, researchers at theLithuanian University of Health Sciences: Assoc. Prof. Dr Jurgita Skiecevičienė and Prof. Dr Juozas Kupčinskas, who, together with Prof. Dr Laimas Virginijus Jonaitis and Prof. Dr Gediminas Kiudelis submitted their award winning cycle of research papers ‘Tumour and inflammatory diseases of the digestive system: new molecular biomarkers, clinical-epidemiological aspects, and modern methods of treatment’.
Dr Jurgita Skiecevičienė and Prof. Dr Juozas Kupčinskas, members of the Young Academy of the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences awarded the Lithuanian Science Prizes.
Their research presents new data on molecular biomarkers, microbiome, epidemiological studies, and modern methods of treatment, which have a significant impact on the development of research and clinical practice of digestive system diseases in Lithuania and internationally.
Speaking on behalf of the prize recipients, Prof. Juozas Kupčinskas, Head of the Gastroenterology Clinic at the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, stressed that while enjoying recognition of their achievements, scientists cannot remain indifferent to Russia's aggression in Ukraine and that is why he and his colleagues – Assoc. Prof. Dr Jurgita Skiecevičienė, Head of Laboratory at the Institute of Digestive Research , and gastroenterology professors Laimas Jonaitis and Gediminas Kiudelis – decided to donate €16,000, which amounts to half of the Lithuanian Science Prize, to the Ukrainian Relief Fund.
Information of the Young Academy of the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences
Translated by Diana Barnard