For the first time, a Chinese candidate is in the running for an award given to the world's best women scientists, according to report of China Daily on December 3.

Chen Saijuan, a professor at Shanghai Ruijin Hospital who researches hematology and medical genetics, has been nominated, along with 34 others, for the Helena Rubinstein Prize.

Founded in 1998 by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and the French cosmetics company L'Oreal, this is the only international prize reserved for important women in science.

Chen is the first woman from the Chinese mainland nominated for the prize.

On January 10, 2000, five women will be singled out for their extraordinary work and given Helena Rubinstein prizes at a ceremony in Paris. Each of the five winners, representing a continent, will receive a US$20,000 prize. There are five candidates from Asia.

Chen is one of China's leading scientists in leukaemia, cytogenetics and molecular biology research.

Her most significant achievement is a reasonably affordable therapy that helps patients fight leukaemia.