According to the decree on awarding the honor, Dr. Botond Roska and his colleagues work to learn about human vision and healing its various diseases. Thanks to his research, types of blindness caused by the loss of the eye’s ability to process light could soon be cured. Working with his colleagues, Dr. Botond Roska has developed a therapy that can make the problematic cells of the visual system once again sensitive to light.
In his speech honoring the professor, President Áder said that the developed gene therapy procedure is now in the clinical trial phase. The gene therapy to restore vision will be a revolutionary method of worldwide importance, the president emphasized, adding the Dr. Roska’s discovery will soon become common shared knowledge, which will become a universal treasure. “With the Order of Saint Stephen we celebrate those that strengthen our reputation at home and abroad, and we recognize our fellow citizens who encourage others to do their best work with their own achievements,” he said.
The president awards Hungary’s highest state honor at the proposal of the prime minister. Also present at the awarding ceremony were Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, Deputy Prime Minister Zsolt Semjén, Péter Darák, the president of the Curia, Cardinal Péter Erdő and other government members.
Neurobiologist researcher Dr. Botond Roska received his medical degree from Semmelweis University, and currently is director of the Institute of Molecular and Clinical Ophthalmology Basel, a professor at the University of Basel’s Faculty of Medicine and the head of neurobiology research group at the Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research.
Translation: Tamás Deme
Photo and source: MTI
