Dr. Jennifer Doudna – Co-discoverer of CRISPR-Cas9 Gene Editing: A biochemist at the University of California, Berkeley, Dr. Doudna and her colleague Dr. Emmanuelle Charpentier were awarded the 2020 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for their groundbreaking work in developing the CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing technology.
Dr. Emmanuelle Charpentier – Microbiologist and Geneticist: Alongside Dr. Doudna, Dr. Charpentier’s discovery of the CRISPR-Cas9 system has revolutionized genetic engineering. She currently heads the Max Planck Unit for the Science of Pathogens in Germany.
Dr. Feng Zhang – Core Institute Member, Broad Institute: A major figure in the CRISPR community, Zhang was among the first to adapt CRISPR-Cas9 for genome editing in eukaryotic cells, broadening its applicability in therapeutic research.
Dr. George Church – Professor, Harvard Medical School: An iconic figure in genomics, Church’s work includes developing methods to edit genes in human cells. His contributions stretch from sequencing technologies to gene therapy and gene editing.
Dr. Prashant Mali – Biomedical Engineer, UC San Diego: Mali collaborated with Church to showcase the potential of CRISPR for multiplex gene editing. He continues to explore the therapeutic and experimental potentials of CRISPR.
Dr. J. Keith Joung – Associate Chief of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital: A prominent figure in the gene-editing world, Joung’s lab focuses on refining and expanding the capabilities of CRISPR and other gene-editing technologies.
Dr. Rodolphe Barrangou – Professor, North Carolina State University: Known as the “CRISPR Chef”, Barrangou focuses on the applications of CRISPR in bacteria, especially its role in bacterial immunity and its application in food industries.
Dr. Virginijus Siksnys – Biochemist, Vilnius University: Siksnys independently discovered the CRISPR-Cas9 system around the same time as Doudna and Charpentier. His work delves deep into the mechanistic aspects of the system.
Dr. Jacob Corn – Scientific Director, ETH Zurich: His lab explores the biology and application of genome editing in human cells. Corn’s work emphasizes both fundamental biological questions and translational applications.
Dr. Rachel Haurwitz – President & CEO, Caribou Biosciences: Once a student of Dr. Doudna, Haurwitz co-founded Caribou Biosciences, focusing on the drug development and agricultural applications of CRISPR technology.
