Shinya Yamanaka has claimed one of this year’s million-Franc Balzan Prizes in science for his work on reprogramming adult cells.

Yamanaka’s group at Kyoto University have successfully reprogrammed adult cells to show some of the characteristics of embryonic stem cells, so called ‘induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells’ (see: Fast and furious). This, says the International Balzan Foundation*, “enabled scientists world-wide to avoid the use of embryonic stem cells which is criticised on ethical grounds”.

Yamanaka will receive one million Swiss Francs (£640,000), of which half must go to research projects.

The other prize for scientific endeavours went to Jacob Palis of the national Institute of Pure and Applied Mathematics at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, for his work on dynamical systems.

• aim: “to promote culture, the sciences and the most meritorious initiatives in the cause of humanity, peace and brotherhood among peoples throughout the world”.