Discoveries in the biomedical sciences and innovations in clinical medicine have led to significant victories in our longstanding war against disease and suffering. With the mapping of the entire human genome, we are now closer to the understanding of the mechanisms of life, aging, illness and death, opening up exciting new opportunities for advances in therapeutics. Novel insights in the life science and technological advances in medicine will result in better health and an improved quality of life for the human race in the new century.
for their discovery of the genetic and molecular mechanisms underlying the fetal-to-adult hemoglobin switch, making possible a revolutionary and highly effective genome-editing therapy for sickle cell anemia and β thalassemia, devastating blood diseases that affect millions of people worldwide.
Prizes in Life Science and Medicine have been awarded to one laureate only
Prizes in Life Science and Medicine have been shared by two laureates
Prizes in Life Science and Medicine have been shared by three laureates
for her mapping the first breast cancer gene. Using mathematical modeling, King predicted and then demonstrated that breast cancer can be caused by a single gene. She mapped the gene which facilitated its cloning and has saved thousands of lives.
for their discovery of microtubule-associated motor proteins: engines that power cellular and intracellular movements essential to the growth, division, and survival of human cells.
for their discovery of the genes and the encoded proteins that recognize one chemical modification of the DNA of chromosomes that influences gene control as the basis of the developmental disorder Rett syndrome.
for elucidating the molecular mechanism of quorum sensing, a process whereby bacteria communicate with each other and which offers innovative ways to interfere with bacterial pathogens or to modulate the microbiome for health applications.
for their discovery of the Unfolded Protein Response of the endoplasmic reticulum, a cell signalling pathway that controls organelle homeostasis and quality of protein export in eukaryotic cells.
for their discovery of molecular mechanisms underlying circadian rhythms.
