Moroccan researcher Adnane Remmal was named one of the three recipients of the UNESCO-Equatorial Guinea International Prize for Research in the Life Sciences on Friday evening, November 6, in Paris, in recognition of their major contributions to scientific research and the improvement of human health.
A professor at Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University in Fez, Remmal was honored for his pioneering work in combating antibiotic resistance, considered one of the major public health challenges worldwide.
His research notably led to the development of OLIPEN, an antibiotic combined with a component of essential oil. Approved for clinical use, it offers new treatment options for patients in Morocco suffering from multidrug-resistant infections.
The Moroccan researcher has also developed natural alternatives to antibiotics for livestock farming. This approach takes an integrated view of human and animal health, seeking to reduce the use of antibiotics and promote safer, more sustainable food production.
The award highlights the contribution of Moroccan scientific research to international efforts to address major contemporary health challenges, particularly antimicrobial resistance.
Speaking to MAP, Remmal expressed his deep gratitude to UNESCO and the Republic of Equatorial Guinea for awarding him the international prize. He noted that “this distinction highlights one of the major health challenges of our time, namely antimicrobial resistance.” The phenomenon, he said, is “a silent threat that transcends borders and undermines not only public health, but also human development, food security and global equity.”
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Professor Remmal also highlighted the approach, which has been validated in Morocco and has already benefited hundreds of thousands of patients. He explained that it focuses on restoring the effectiveness of existing antibiotics rather than systematically developing new molecules.
The strategy involves combining a conventional antibiotic with a natural molecule that acts as a “resistance breaker,” thereby restoring the treatment’s effectiveness against resistant bacteria. This innovative approach also has the advantage of significantly reducing development costs and timelines, potentially making these solutions more accessible to different healthcare systems, he said.
Remmal also praised the vision of King Mohammed VI, who places human development, health sovereignty and scientific excellence at the heart of Morocco’s national priorities.
Alongside Professor Remmal, the prize jury, chaired by Moroccan researcher Rajaâ Cherkaoui El Moursli, also recognized Chinese neuroscientist Nancy Yuk-yu Ip, president of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, for her research into brain mechanisms and Alzheimer’s disease, and Spanish professor Carlos Martín Montañés of the University of Zaragoza for his contribution to the clinical development of a live attenuated tuberculosis vaccine.
Speaking to MAP, Cherkaoui El Moursli, a nuclear physicist, said she was proud to see Morocco contributing to the international standing of scientific research. She added that recognizing researchers from different backgrounds demonstrates the importance of science as a driver of progress, innovation and cooperation among nations.
Cherkaoui El Moursli, who is also a physics professor at the Faculty of Sciences of Mohammed V University in Rabat, said Africa has considerable scientific potential and is home to many skilled professionals and talented researchers whose work deserves greater international recognition. She called for increased investment in research, greater support for young African researchers and stronger South-South scientific partnerships to enable the continent to contribute fully to knowledge production and efforts to address major global challenges.
Through these three awards, the UNESCO-Equatorial Guinea International Prize for Research in the Life Sciences, now in its 10th edition, recognizes scientific advances in key fields ranging from neurodegenerative diseases to tuberculosis and antibiotic resistance.
The three recipients shared a total prize fund of $300,000 and each received a statuette created by Equatoguinean artist Leandro Mbomio Nsue.
The award ceremony was attended by UNESCO Director-General Khaled El-Enany, several diplomats and researchers.
