As part of Monaco Ocean Week, on Thursday, March 28th, the Sovereign Prince presented the “Prince Albert II of Monaco – Pasteur Institute” prize to Professor Joacim Rocklöv. This award recognises a researcher who has particularly contributed to the study of the impact of environmental changes on human health.
It is part of the framework agreement signed between the Institut Pasteur, the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation and the Prince’s Government on December 21, 2010. It provides for the financing of joint projects for the fight against emerging diseases, access to the training for scientists and health personnel from the least developed countries. As well as the organization of scientific or charitable events, and in connection with the protection of the environment.
This Prize, funded by the Prince’s Government, follows the Convention that links the Monaco Scientific Center, the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation and the Institut Pasteur since 2010 around the consequences for human health of environmental changes explicitly.
Swedish citizen, Joacim Rocklöv is Professor of Epidemiology in the “Sustainable Health” section of the Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine of the Faculty of Medicine of Umea and Associate Researcher at the Institute of Public Health of the University of Heidelberg.
His research focuses on arboviruses and in particular the epidemiology of Zika and Dengue viruses. Because of his expertise in statistics, he was able to develop a predictive mathematical model of dengue epidemics according to the dynamics of the Aedes Aegypti mosquito, to set up early warning systems.
At the same time, he is engaged in interdisciplinary public health activities bringing together health and climate scientists, economists and policy makers and has been invited to join the expert group convened in the “Lancet Countdown” as a specialist in vector diseases. He has also contributed to reports by the IPCC and WHO.
Professor Stewart Cole, Director General, Ms Jennifer Heurley, Deputy Director for International Affairs and Professor Dominique Franco, Head of Education at the Institut Pasteur attended the delegation.