Maria Jasin, PhD, 2019 Shaw Prize Winner
Maria Jasin, PhD, a molecular biologist at the Sloan Kettering Institute, was named a recipient of the Shaw Prize in Life Science and Medicine. Dr. Jasin was recognized for her contributions to research showing that localized double-strand breaks in DNA stimulate recombination in mammalian cells.
Established in 2002, the Shaw Prize honors individuals, regardless of race, nationality, gender, and religious beliefs, who have recently achieved a significant breakthrough in academic and scientific research and whose work has resulted in a positive and profound impact on humankind. There are three annual Shaw Prize categories: astronomy, life science and medicine, and mathematical sciences. Each award recipient receives $1.2 million to support their work. The Shaw Prize will be presented to Dr. Jasin in September in Hong Kong.
Throughout her career, Dr. Jasin has studied the mechanisms of DNA double-strand break repair in mitotic and meiotic cells and the relationship of these repair mechanisms to tumorigenesis. Her groundbreaking work has helped define the roles of the breast cancer genes BRCA1 and BRCA2 and revealed potential therapeutic avenues that are now under active investigation.
In 2015, Dr. Jasin was elected to the National Academy of Sciences, one of the most prestigious honors a scientist can receive. In 2017, she was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, which recognizes excellence across disciplines.