Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) Professor Adrian Krainer has been awarded the 2021 Wolf Prize in Medicine. Krainer was chosen for his contributions in biochemistry and molecular genetics and his fundamental mechanistic discoveries on RNA splicing. He shares this honor with Dr. Joan Steitz of Yale University and Dr. Lynne Maquat of the University of Rochester.
The Wolf Prize is an international award given to scientists and artists from around the world. It honors people for advancing science and art for humanity, for friendship between peoples, and for contributing to the creation of a better world. It is awarded by the Wolf Foundation and the President of the State of Israel.
Krainer is best known for his work on RNA splicing and the development of Spinraza®, the first FDA-approved treatment for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). SMA is a neurodegenerative disease that is the leading genetic cause of infant death.
“I feel very honored that the Wolf Foundation recognized our lab’s research contributions together with those of my distinguished friends and colleagues in the RNA field, Joan Steitz and Lynne Maquat,” said Krainer. “It is truly inspiring to see how much Israeli society values scientific discovery and artistic creativity.”
Written by: Sara Roncero-Menendez, Media Strategist | publicaffairs@cshl.edu | 516-367-8455