China-born biologist Zhang Feng has been awarded the United States’ highest honour for technological achievement in a ceremony at the White House, alongside eight other recipients.
Zhang, an MIT professor and a pioneer in gene-editing technology, received the National Medal of Technology and Innovation in recognition of his work developing the revolutionary gene-editing tool CRISPR-Cas9.
According to the citation from the US Patent and Trademark Office, which administers the awards, the gene-editing technology has widespread applications in agriculture and health research.
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“Zhang’s innovations are fundamentally transforming our collective health and well-being and have contributed to the development of treatments for sickle cell disease, cancer, type 1 diabetes, and more,” it said.
Established by Congress in 1980, the award recognises American innovators whose vision, intellect, creativity, and determination have strengthened the US economy and improved the country’s quality of life, according to a White House statement.
The medal was presented by the White House director of science and technology policy Arati Prabhakar, who also awarded the parallel National Medal of Science to 14 laureates this year.
CRISPR-Cas9 technology – which allows scientists to precisely cut and modify DNA at specific locations within a genome – was discovered by Jennifer Doudna and Emmanuelle Charpentier in 2012.
It uses a guide RNA to target the desired DNA sequence and the Cas9 enzyme as molecular scissors.
Zhang is widely regarded as a fellow pioneer for his critical role in adapting and optimising the technology for use in mammalian cells, which has significantly expanded its applications in medicine, agriculture and research.
The acclaimed scientist was given a rock star welcome when he made a rare public appearance in China last year, speaking to a packed lecture hall at prestigious Peking University.
Zhang met enthusiastic admirers and posed with them for selfies after sharing his latest research findings and personal insights into his own journey into biochemistry – an interest that began in seventh grade when he saw the film Jurassic Park.
Zhang was born in Hebei province, northern China, in 1981. He was 11 years old when he and his mother left the country for the US, where they settled down in Des Moines, Iowa.
He earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and physics from Harvard University in 2004, followed by a PhD in chemistry from Stanford University in 2009. By age 34, he was a tenured professor at MIT’s Broad Institute.
Beyond CRISPR-Cas9, Zhang has made key major contributions to optogenetics, a neuroscience technique that uses light to monitor and control cells in the brain with high precision.
Previous accolades include the Alan T. Waterman Award, the Albany Medical Centre Prize, and the Canada Gairdner International Award.
Zhang is an elected member of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Medicine, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and the National Academy of Inventors.
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