June 17, 2026: While Claudia Bagni was nearly 6,000 kilometres away in the United States, serving as Vice-Chair of the Gordon Research Conference on Fragile X Syndrome and Autism Spectrum Disorder, two award ceremonies were taking place in Lausanne to celebrate her Lab remarkable achievements.
Claudia’s research project was one of five initiatives from across the canton of Vaud selected to receive a 2026 BCV Foundation Award, which supports outstanding scientific, cultural and social projects. The Foundation’s donation will fund a preclinical study aimed at developing an RNA-based therapy for Fragile X syndrome. This recognition underscores the Bagni Lab’s continued commitment to translating fundamental discoveries into meaningful advances for individuals and families affected by Fragile X syndrome and autism.
On the same day, Claudia received the Jürg Tschopp Basic Life Sciences Award, presented by the FBM at the University of Lausanne. This prestigious distinction recognizes her outstanding contributions to understanding the regulation of brain development, synaptic plasticity and behaviour, and how these processes relate to Fragile X syndrome and autism. Claudia is also the first woman scientist to receive the award in the past eight editions!
Above all, these two awards represent a collective achievement. They honour the dedication of everyone who has contributed to this scientific journey, as well as the Fragile X and autism communities, whose trust and support continue to inspire the Bagni Lab’s mission.
Although Claudia was unable to attend the ceremonies on June 17, the Bagni Lab team was delighted to mark this important milestone together upon her return. In the beautiful setting of Saint-Sulpice, having a nice dinner on the lake, we finally had the opportunity to celebrate these achievements as a team and share a truly memorable moment together.
