The scientist rewriting DNA, and the future of medicine
"A revolution is underway in gene editing—and at its forefront is David Liu, an American molecular biologist whose pioneering work is rewriting the building blocks of life with unprecedented precision.
A professor at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Liu was awarded a Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences on Saturday for developing two transformative technologies: one already improving the lives of patients with severe genetic diseases, the other poised to reshape medicine in the years ahead."
“While traditional gene therapies often disrupt faulty genes or work around them, base editing repairs the mutation itself.”
"Liu’s lab has made much of its work freely accessible, sharing DNA blueprints through a nonprofit library used by tens of thousands of labs worldwide.
“The science we create—which is ultimately funded by society, through governments and donors—ultimately goes back to benefit society.”
This year’s Breakthrough Prize awards come at a fraught moment for U.S. science, as President Donald Trump’s government strips funding for institutions like the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
“The NIH is a treasure, not just for this country but for the world,” said Liu. “Trying to dismantle the heart of what supports science in this country is like burning your seed corn.”"
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