Zhijian James Chen, senior investigator at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, professor from the Department of Molecular Biology at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and a member of the National Academy of Sciences, has been honored with the 2024 Albert Lasker Basic Medical Research Award. 

Zhijian James Chen has been honored with the 2024 Albert Lasker Basic Medical Research Award. [Photo/WeChat account: BSC] 

The 2024 Lasker Awards, announced on Sept 19, recognized Chen for his discovery of the cGAS enzyme that senses foreign and self DNA. With original thinking and tour-de-force experimentation, he solved the mystery of how DNA stimulates immune and inflammatory responses 

cGAS underpins a major mechanism by which mammals combat microbial invaders and it fosters antitumor immunity. In certain physiological settings, inappropriate cGAS activity contributes to autoimmune and inflammatory disorders. The enzyme provides a pharmaceutical target for diverse human maladies, and the signaling molecule that it generates holds promise for fighting infectious diseases and cancer. 

The Lasker Award, established in 1946, is among the most prestigious in the medical field, widely regarded as second only to the Nobel Prize. It recognizes scientists, physicians and public service individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the field. It is often considered a bellwether for the Nobel Prize, with 86 Lasker laureates having received the Nobel Prize. 

Chen also received the Shizhang Bei International Award issued by the Biophysical Society of China in 2020 for his remarkable achievements in biophysics.

The Shizhang Bei International Award was added to the Shizhang Bei Award in 2013 to commend internationally renowned scientists with significant accomplishments in biophysics who have made positive contributions to the development of China's biophysical studies.