Annually, TIME magazine publishes a list of The 100 Most Influential People in the World, recognizing pioneers, titans, artists, leaders, and icons for their influence and contributions during the prior year. Earlier this month, TIMEunveiled its 12th annual list, which included the winners of the 2014 Dr. Paul Jansen Award for Biomedical Research, Drs. Emmanuelle Charpentier and Jennifer Doudna. We were thrilled to see last year’s Award winners recognized on this prestigious list!
Johnson & Johnson honored Drs. Charpentier and Doudna last year for their discovery of the CRISPR-Cas9 method of genetic editing, considered one of the most significant breakthroughs in molecular biology in the past decade. This new DNA editing strategy has led to a substantial leap in scientists’ ability to manipulate genetic processes and holds promise for significantly advancing drug development. As Johnson & Johnson Chief Scientific Officer Paul Stoffels said, “The work of Drs. Charpentier and Doudna has the potential to make a significant impact on human health, which is the very heart of Dr. Paul’s legacy, as well as our mission at Johnson & Johnson.”
In addition to being named to the TIME 100 list and winning the Dr. Paul Janssen Award, Drs. Charpentier and Dounda also added the Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences to their growing list of accolades earlier this year. For more information on their discovery, please visithttp://www.pauljanssenaward.com.
The innovations of each of the past winners of the Dr. Paul Janssen Award are tangible evidence of the power of science to change the world. Though not often recognized in the mainstream media and by the general public, it is the work of talented, tireless researchers that propels science and society forward. We are delighted to see last year’s winners celebrated in such a high-profile manner alongside the world’s most influential business leaders, policy makers, and artists.
The Johnson & Johnson family is happy to congratulate Drs. Charpentier and Doudna on their continued success. Nominations for the 2015 Dr. Paul Janssen Award closed last month and we look forward to announcing the next outstanding winner(s) later this Spring.