Posts in category: King Faisal Prize

During its 46th session, King Faisal Prize Recognized Other Outstanding Figures in the Fields of Islamic Studies, and Service to Islam

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – April 22, 2024

During the 46th session of King Faisal Prize on April 22, exceptional accomplishments in the fields of gene therapy for neuromuscular diseases and groundbreaking RNA discoveries were acknowledged. Professor Jerry Mendell was awarded the Medicine Prize for his groundbreaking contributions to the screening, early diagnosis, and treatment of neuromuscular disorders, notably spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) and Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Professor Howard Chang received the Science Prize for unveiling the intrinsic role of long non-coding RNAs in gene regulation and function, a previously overlooked area of study.

Through innovative gene therapy approaches, Professor Mendell, the Director of Gene Therapy Center at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and Curran Peters Chair in Pediatric Research, has revolutionized treatment strategies, offering hope to countless patients worldwide.

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), once considered a leading genetic cause of infant mortality, has seen a paradigm shift in treatment due to Professor Mendell’s pioneering efforts. By utilizing gene therapy to deliver crucial genes to affected cells, he has significantly improved outcomes for patients, leading in 2019 to the first-ever FDA-approved gene therapy treatment for pediatric SMA patients (Zolgensma®).

In addition to his work in SMA, Professor Mendell’s research has extended to Duchenne muscular dystrophy and limb-girdle muscular dystrophy, showcasing the versatility and efficacy of gene therapy in addressing a spectrum of neuromuscular conditions. Genetic mutations in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) patients hinder the production of dystrophin, a crucial protein for muscle health. While initial symptoms primarily affect skeletal muscles, DMD progresses to impact cardiac and respiratory functions. Gene therapy offers a solution by addressing this genetic anomaly, allowing the body to produce dystrophin and halt muscle degeneration. In June 2023, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the first treatment for pediatric DMD patients aged 4-5, utilizing a pioneering gene therapy co-developed by Professor Mendell and Professor Louise Rodino-Klapac, a former post-doctoral researcher in Mendell’s lab. This therapy involves a single injection, delivering a micro-dystrophin gene within an adeno-associated virus serotype (AAVrh74), facilitating the transfer of missing or corrected genes to cells.

He has played a significant role in clinical trials targeting different forms of Limb-Girdle Muscular Dystrophy (LGMD), characterized by muscle weakness affecting the shoulders, upper arms, hips, and upper legs. One study particularly concentrated on LGMD2B, demonstrating that a single injection of a gene therapy vector effectively restored damaged muscle fibers, mitigating degeneration, and improving muscle function.

Professor Mendell boasts a portfolio of more than 400 published papers, a testament to his prolific contributions to the field. In acknowledgment of his achievements, he was honored with election to the National Academy of Medicine in 2021. The American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy bestowed upon him the prestigious Translational Science Award named in his honor. Furthermore, in 2017, Science Magazine recognized his groundbreaking work in SMA Gene Therapy with the esteemed Breakthrough Achievement Award. His accolades also include numerous other awards and invitations to deliver honorary lectures at esteemed institutions.

In his acceptance speech during the ceremony, Professor Mendell said, “The principles of the award that reflect King Faisal’s intent to relieve human suffering are consistent with my own views and lifetime achievements. I have done everything I could do to improve the quality and prolong life for patients afflicted with neuromuscular diseases.”

On the frontier of molecular biology, Professor Howard Chang, a physician-scientist and Professor of Dermatology and Genetics, and Virginia and D.K. Ludwig Professor of Cancer Research at Stanford University, has been awarded King Faisal Prize for Science in Biology. Professor Chang’s elucidation of the role of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in gene regulation has revolutionized our understanding of cellular processes and disease mechanisms.

Through innovative genome-wide methodologies, Professor Chang has uncovered the intricate interplay between lncRNAs and gene expression, shedding light on fundamental biological processes underlying development, cancer, and aging. Despite not encoding proteins, lncRNAs are crucial for controlling the timing and amount of protein production, impacting the overall function and behavior of cells.

Within each human cell, a remarkable feat of organization unfolds: 2 meters of DNA are tightly packed into a nucleus merely 10 microns in size. This dense packaging renders most of the DNA inaccessible, except for the active DNA elements crucial to the cell’s functioning and reading. Identifying these accessible elements unveils invaluable insights into the cellular “software.” His groundbreaking techniques lie in mapping chromatin—the substance constituting chromosomes, comprised of DNA and associated proteins governing genome structure and gene expression. This has provided unprecedented insights into the regulatory mechanisms governing gene expression, paving the way for novel therapeutic interventions and precision medicine approaches. One technique is the Assay of Transposase Accessible Chromatin, employing the Tn5 transposase enzyme to efficiently copy and paste DNA. This revolutionary technique has yielded a million-fold enhancement in sensitivity and a hundred-fold improvement in mapping speed for regulatory DNA—the epigenome—in human cells.

As the founder of the RNA Medicine Program at Stanford University, Professor Chang continues to spearhead efforts to translate RNA science into tangible clinical applications, furthering the promise of RNA-based therapeutics in treating a wide range of diseases. Prof. Chang’s honors include the NAS Award for Molecular Biology, Outstanding Investigator Award of the National Cancer Institute, Paul Marks Prize for Cancer Research, Judson Daland Prize of the American Philosophical Society, and the Vilcek Prize for Creative Promise. His work was honored by the journal Cell as a Landmark paper over the last 40 years and by Science as “Insight of the decade”.

In his acceptance speech during the ceremony, Professor Chang said, “Our research asked a basic question: how do cells decide when and where to switch different genes on? How do these decisions get passed over time? Our studies led us to a new class of RNAs, called long noncoding RNAs, that help cells remember their cell fates. Our understanding of the gene switches led to an understanding of how inherited genetic differences cause disease, especially immune diseases. This understanding also helped to tackle mutations that arise in cancer.”

In addition to honoring advancements in medicine and science, King Faisal Prize also recognized exemplary contributions in Islamic Studies and Service to Islam.   Professor Wael Hallaq, among the top 500 scholars in Islamic Studies globally, was awarded the Islamic Studies prize for his groundbreaking contributions in guiding the development of Islamic legislation and challenging the narrative of closing of the gate of ijtihad – interpreting Islamic texts – gained prominence, reshaping accepted paradigms in the field.

The Japan Muslim Association and Mr. Mohammad El Sammak were honored for their exemplary leadership in serving Islam and humanity. The Japan Muslim Association is a pioneering Islamic organization for Japanese Muslims, renowned for its historic translation of the Holy Quran into Japanese, and its defense of Muslims’ affairs in Japan. And, Mr. Mohammad El Sammak, a pioneer in dialogue and bridge-building between different faiths, has made a lasting impact in interfaith dialogue over five decades. He was awarded for his effective contributions to conferences exploring Islam’s relationship with other beliefs and his leadership in institutions dedicated to tolerance and peace.

King Faisal Prize for Arabic Language & Literature for 2024 on the topic of “Non-Arab Institutions and their Endeavors to Promote Arabic” was withheld due to nominated works not elevating to the criteria of the prize.

Since 1979, King Faisal Prize in its 5 different categories has awarded 295 laureates who have made distinguished contributions to different sciences and causes. Each prize laureate is endowed with USD 200 thousand; a 24-carat gold medal weighing 200 grams, and a Certificate inscribed with the Laureate’s name and a summary of their work which qualified them for the prize.

Under the auspices of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz and in the presence of His Royal Highness Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz, Governor of Riyadh region, King Faisal Prize honored today its laureates for this year 2024.

King Faisal Prize for Service to Islam this year was distinguished by the honoring of the first Islamic organization for Muslims in Japan, “Japan Muslim Association” in appreciation of its diligent efforts in serving Islam and Muslims and in promoting understanding and tolerance in Japanese society. The Association was founded in 1952 under the name of “Society of Muslim Friends” and worked to serve and attend for Muslims in Japan, defend their interests, and pay special attention to educating Muslim youth to enable them to understand their religion and culture. In 1957, the
Association launched the scholarship program sending students to Islamic countries for education and academic achievement. In 1961, it established the “Muslim Students in Japan Association”. To defy the misconceptions about Islam, the Association published books and publications explaining the true Islamic values and principles and issued the “Voice of Islam” bulletin in 1959. In 1963, the Association established the “Association of Islamic Studies in Japan.” The efforts of the Association were not limited to Japan alone, but also included organizing Hajj and Umrah for Japanese Muslims. The president of the ” Japan Muslim Association,” Yahya Toshio Endo, said in his speech during the ceremony: “Throughout the history of the association, many achievements have been made, thank Allah, most notably the project of the first translation of the Holy Quran into Japanese language by Muslims. It was translated by the second president of the Association, Omar Meta – May his soul rest in peace – and published in 1972. A number of books of Quranic interpretation, hadiths, and the biography of the Prophet were also translated in addition to writing, translating, and distributing many introductory materials about Islam.”

King Faisal Prize for Service to Islam was also awarded to the prominent intellectual Mr. Mohammed El Sammak, a pioneer in dialogue and bridge-building between different faiths, who has made a lasting impact in interfaith dialogue over five decades. He is awarded for his effective contributions to conferences exploring Islam’s relationship with other beliefs and his leadership in institutions dedicated to tolerance and peace. Mr. El Sammak’s efforts in promoting Islamic-Christian dialogue resulted in direct meetings between the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar and His Holiness the Pope of the Catholic Church in the Vatican, as well as between His Excellency the President and Secretary-General of the Muslim World League in Makkah and the Pope of the Vatican and the dignitaries of the Catholic Church in Rome. These meetings produced documents, the most prominent of which was the “Human Fraternity” document issued in Abu Dhabi in 2019. Mr. El Sammak studied political science, media, and Islamic thought, and obtained an honorary doctorate in humanities from the Lebanese American University. He currently holds the position of Secretary-General of the National Committee for Christian-Muslim Dialogue in Lebanon, as well as the position of Secretary-General of the Permanent Secretariat of the Islamic Spiritual Summit in Lebanon. He also served as an advisor to the late Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.

Mr. Mohammed El Sammak has other contributions as a political thinker and writer in prominent Arab newspapers such as (Al-Ahram – Cairo) and (Al-Ittihad – Abu Dhabi), and has several works on Islam, politics, and Islamic-Christian dialogue, including: “Introduction to the Islamic-Christian Dialogue,” “The Position of Islam in the Clash of Civilizations,” and “Muslims and Contemporary Challenges.” He received many awards and honors, including the “The Fondazione Ducci” Peace Award in Italy, the Italian Order of Merit of the Republic Officer’s rank, and the King Hussein Award for Distinguished Giving of the First Class, among others. In his speech during the ceremony, Mr.  Mohammed El Sammak said: “Islam champions the dignity of man in view of his human nature. Islam also recognizes existing differences among people… Thanks to His wisdom, Allah wants to make people different, but He calls upon us to seek to know each other. In this sense, dialogue is both the path and the instrument.” He also mentioned Pope John Paul II’s respect for his religious beliefs during the Synod on Lebanon in 1993, where the meeting coincided with Friday prayers, so Mr. El Sammak apologized for attending. He quoted the Pope as saying during the conference, “We hope Mohammed El Sammak, our guest and partner in the dialogue, will pray for the success of this Synod.” El Sammak added that when the Pope invited him to his personal table with a small group of cardinals, he insisted that only water and orange juice be served, out of respect for his Islamic faith.

In the field of Islamic Studies, which focused this year on “Islamic Legislations and their Contemporary Applications” the prize was awarded to Professor Wael Hallaq; the Avalon Foundation Professor in the Humanities at Columbia University since 2009, teaching ethics, law, and political thought. Professor Wael Hallaq, among the top 500 scholars in Islamic Studies globally, was awarded the Islamic Studies prize for his groundbreaking contributions in guiding the development of Islamic legislation. His doctoral work challenging the narrative of “the closing of the gate of ijtihad” gained prominence, reshaping accepted paradigms in the field.

He obtained his master’s and doctoral degrees from the University of Washington in 1979 and 1983 in Islamic jurisprudence and law, respectively. In 1985, he joined McGill University in Canada as an assistant professor of Islamic law. In 1994, he became a full professor, and named a James McGill Professor in Islamic Law in 2005. Professor Hallaq has produced many pioneering research papers and books, addressing various topics ranging from the emergence of Islam to our modern history. Among his distinguished works are: “The Impossible State” and “Reforming Modernity: Ethics and the New Human in the Philosophy of Taha Abdurrahman,” and “The Origins and Evolution of Islamic Law.” His intellectual works in the field of Islamic studies have shaped Western academic education on Islamic law, and his books and articles have been translated into more than 10 languages, including Japanese, Indonesian, Italian, Russian, German, Albanian, and others. The scientific efforts of Professor Wael Hallaq have been crowned with numerous awards, including his book “The Impossible State” winning the Columbia’s distinguished Book Award in 2015 for two consecutive years. In 2020, he won the Nautilus Book Award for his book “Reforming Modernity.” Then, in 2021, he received the TÜBA Prize awarded by the Turkish Academy of Science, in appreciation of his innovative and pioneering ideas and contributions to the field of humanities and social sciences. Later that same year, he was elected as an honorary member of this academy. In his acceptance speech during the ceremony he said, “Without talent and inspiration, also inexplicable, we have no hope of intellectual and artistic achievement, and so I am extremely grateful for whatever I have been endowed with, and for any hand that lent me help. I never take any of these for granted.”

King Faisal Prize for Arabic Language & Literature for 2024 on the topic of “Non-Arab Institutions and their Endeavors to Promote Arabic” was withheld due to nominated works not elevating to the criteria of the prize.

This year’s medicine prize topic is “Management of Peripheral Disabilities”. Professor Jerry Mendell, Director of Gene Therapy Center at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, received the prize for his pioneering work in the screening, early diagnosis, and treatment of patients with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), Duchenne muscular dystrophy, and limb girdle muscular dystrophies. He was the first investigator to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of high doses of AAV-mediated gene transfer therapy in patients with SMA type 1, a treatment that is globally approved. He demonstrated that it takes courage, commitment, and determination to translate preclinical developments for the benefit of patients. In his acceptance speech, he said, “The principles of the award that reflect King Faisal’s intent to relieve human suffering are consistent with my own views and lifetime achievements. I have done everything I could do to improve the quality and prolong life for patients afflicted with neuromuscular diseases.”

As for the Prize in Science, it was awarded to Professor Howard Chang, a professor at Stanford University in the United States, Professor Howard Yuan-Hao Chang is awarded the prize for his pioneering contributions in elucidating the role of long non-coding RNAs in gene regulation and function, overturning the previous belief that 98% of human DNA is non-functional. Professor Chang co-developed innovative genome-wide approaches for identifying DNA regulatory regions. These discoveries are having a powerful impact across molecular biology and genetics and have important implications for understanding complex human diseases. In his acceptance speech during the ceremony, Professor Chang said, “Our research asked a basic question: how do cells decide when and where to switch different genes on? How do these decisions get passed over time? Our studies led us to a new class of RNAs, called long noncoding RNAs, that help cells remember their cell fates. Our understanding of the gene switches led to an understanding of how inherited genetic differences cause disease, especially immune diseases. This understanding also helped to tackle mutations that arise in cancer.”

Since 1979, King Faisal Prize in its 5 different categories has awarded 295 laureates who have made distinguished contributions to different sciences and causes. Each prize laureate is endowed with USD 200 thousand (SAR 750,000); a 24-carat gold medal weighing 200 grams, and a Certificate inscribed with the Laureate’s name and a summary of their work which qualified them for the prize.

Riyadh, KSA, January 10, 2024:

A prize selection committee for King Faisal Prize for Service to Islam, headed by His Royal Highness Prince Turki Al-Faisal, met today to select the 2024 King Faisal Prize laureate in the Service to Islam category: one of the Prize’s five categories.

The Service to Islam prize reflects the primary objectives of the King Faisal Prize to ingrain Islamic values and ideas in the society and highlight their key role in enriching knowledge and human development. It aims to benefit Muslims in their present and future through awarding and acknowledging the distinguished efforts of individuals and institutions that have excelled in serving Islam and Muslims. To qualify for the prize, an individual or an institution should have rendered exceptional services to Islam and Muslims through knowledge and deeds or provided other outstanding services that offer far-reaching benefits to Islam and Muslims.

Later this evening, HRH Prince Turki Al-Faisal will announce the names of the 2024 King Faisal prize laureates that were selected over the past 3 days in all five categories, during a ceremony held in Riyadh for guests and media. The event will be streamed live at 8:00 pm (KSA time) through King Faisal Prize’s website and social media platforms.

53 laureates have previously received the Service to Islam prize during the past 45 years. The list of Service to Islam Laureates has comprised rulers, heads of states, thought leaders and social scientists as well as distinguished institutions.

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About King Faisal Prize:

The King Faisal Prize (KFP) was established by the King Faisal Foundation in 1977 and was granted for the first time in 1979. The Prize recognizes the outstanding works of individuals and institutions in five categories: Service to Islam, Islamic Studies, Arabic Language and Literature, Medicine, and Science.

Its aim is to benefit Muslims in their present and future, inspire them to participate in all aspects of civilization, and enrich human knowledge and development.

• Selection Committees started their meetings at King Faisal Prize headquarters to select laureates in Islamic Studies,
  Arabic Language & Literature, Medicine, and Science
• HRH Prince Turki Al-Faisal to chair committee meeting to select the laureate in Service to Islam
• Laureates Names to Be Announced on January 10

Riyadh, KSA, January 8, 2024:

King Faisal Prize will be announcing the names of its 2024 laureates on the 10^th of January in Riyadh. In preparation for the announcement, specialized selection committees of the prize’s 4 categories – Islamic Studies, Arabic Language & Literature, Medicine, and Science started their meetings at the Prize’s headquarters today, 8 January 2024 and will continue until the 10^th. On the 10^th of January, His Royal Highness Prince Turki Al-Faisal Bin Abd Al-Aziz will chair the committee meeting to select the laureate of the Service to Islam prize.

The General Secretariat had announced in 2022 the topics of the 46^th session of King Faisal Prize for 2024, as follows: Islamic Studies “Islamic Legislations and their Contemporary Applications”; Arabic Language & Literature “Non-Arab Institutions and their Endeavors to the Promotion of Arabic”; Medicine “Management of Peripheral Disabilities”; and Science “Biology”.

The General Secretariat also pointed out that nominations are made by scientific institutions, universities, research centres as well as scientific and language councils, provided the nominated individual is alive and their nominated work is already published. The work should also be informative and contribute to the enrichment of knowledge for the development of humanity. Nominations are not accepted from individuals or political parties.

The Prize selection committees this year include experts, specialists, and scholars, coming from 22 different countries to meet in Riyadh and examine the nominated works to select the laureates in an objective and transparent manner, in accordance with the rules and regulations developed by the General Secretariat of the Prize.

A Pioneer in “Islamic Architecture”, a Prominent Critic in “Classical Arabic Narrative and Modern Theories”, Covid-19 Vaccine Developers and Nanotechnology Scientists were honored today in The Prize’s 45^th session

20 March 2023, Riyadh

Under the auspices of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz and in the presence of His Royal Highness Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz, Governor of Riyadh region, on his behalf King Faisal Prize honored today its laureates for this year 2023, in its five categories: Service to Islam, Islamic Studies, Arabic Language & Literature, Medicine, and Science.

This years’ Service to Islam Prize was received by Professor Choi Young Kil-Hamed, Professor of Islamic Studies (Former) at Myeongji University and Hancock University for Foreign Studies in Korea and the Chairman of the Korean Islamic Hiba Fund, making him the first Laureate from South Korea to receive this prize. He contributed to the dissemination of knowledge about the critical aspects of Islamic culture to Far Eastern societies, specifically among Korean-speaking people through translating many Islamic books into Korean, organizing courses to introduce Islam, and teaching Arabic language and Islamic sciences at the Universities of Myeongji and Hankook for Foreign Studies. He chaired several institutions, organizations, and federations, concerned with Muslim affairs. In his acceptance speech, he expressed the sense of greater responsibility to introduce Islamic and Arabic culture to the Korean society.

The Service to Islam Prize was also granted to His Excellency Shaikh Nasser bin Abdullah Al Zaabi, Chairman of the Permanent Council of the Islamic Solidarity Fund (ISF). His efforts in philanthropic and relief work culminated in the creation of several Islamic centers, schools, training centers, hospitals, and dispensaries, in addition to providing care to thousands of orphans, digging hundreds of artesian wells, building several dams, launching agricultural projects, and supporting many vulnerable communities in Africa. He said in his acceptance speech, “The starting point to serve Islam is present in every age and place. Serving Islam starts in yourself, in your family, in your country and society, and in your vast human surroundings, education, advocacy, relief and diverse and complex charitable work, in writing, providing guidance and assistance to those who need help, especially in our days when poverty has grown exponentially, when ignorance and wars abound, and when high prices and diseases spread.”

Professor Robert Hillenbrand, Honorary Professorial Fellow in the department of Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies (IMES) at the University of Edinburgh, was awarded the “Islamic Studies” prize in “Islamic Architecture”. His work was distinguished by its geographic and temporal expansiveness, which covered North Africa, Egypt, Palestine, and Central Asia, and spanned from the early Islamic period till the 19th Century. Professor Hillenbrand has written eleven books, notably “Imperial Images in Persian Painting”; “Islamic Art and Architecture”; “The Architecture of Ottoman Jerusalem”; “Studies in Medieval Islamic Architecture”; “Islamic Architecture: Form, Function and Meaning”; “Studies in the Islamic Decorative Arts”; and “An unknown Masterpiece from Mongol Iran”. During the ceremony, he referred to the huge impact of the glories of Islamic architecture and art on his students in the West, describing it as: “As a way into a previously unknown, even unsuspected, world it cannot be surpassed. The effect can be electric – it is as instantaneous and unprocessed as the response to music; its appeal is beyond words. That experience often has lifelong repercussions for such students.”

Professor Abdelfattah Kilito, Professor at Mohammed V University in Morocco, received the “Arabic Language and Literature” prize which focused on “Classical Arabic Narrative and Modern Theories”. He is considered one of the most prominent Arab critics in the modern era. He creatively and extensively elucidated different genres in Classical Arabic Narrative. He also embodied modern critical approaches within his vision, in a novel and creative method, exploring areas in the Classical Arab Narrative that evaded many before. Among his complete works, which came in five parts: “The Controversy of Languages, The Past and the Present, The Roots of Narration, The Carriers of the Story, and Mirrors.” He also wrote several books, including: “Literature and Strangeness” and “The Eye and the Needle”. During the ceremony, he praised the Prize’s officials for choosing the field of narration and literary criticism as a prize topic this year, underlining the international impact of the Prize stating, “the international dimension of this Prize gives it an added value and raises the benchmark by which scholarly productions and their scholarly value have been assessed in various fields”.

On the topic of “Pandemics and Vaccine Development,” the Medicine Prize was awarded to professors Dan Barouch of Harvard University and Sarah Gilbert of Oxford University. who employed a novel technology in developing Covid-19 viral vectors vaccines: the Johnson & Johnson vaccine and the Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine, respectively. Instead of the traditional vaccines’ method which uses a weakened or killed form of the original infection and requires a long time to develop in the human body, they genetically modified a harmless version of a different virus to carry genetic material to body cells and deliver protection.

In his acceptance speech during the ceremony, Professor Barouch said, “The Ad26 vaccine for COVID-19 demonstrated robust efficacy in humans, even after a single shot, and showed continued protection against virus variants that emerged. This vaccine has been rolled out across the world by the pharmaceutical company Johnson & Johnson, and over 200 million people have received this vaccine, particularly in the developing world”. As for Professor Gilbert, she said that she is “humbled to join the other 2023 laureates today, and to follow-in the footsteps of the men and women whose work has been recognized by the Foundation over more than four decades. This award is in recognition of my work to co-create a vaccine for COVID-19. A low-cost, accessible, efficacious vaccine that has now been used in more than 180 countries and is estimated to have saved more than six million lives by the start of 2022.”

Northwestern University Professor, Chad Mirkin, and the A*STAR Senior Fellow and Director at NanoBio Lab, Professor Jackie Yi-Ru Ying, were awarded the King Faisal Prize for Science in “Chemistry”, for helping define the modern age of nanotechnology and for their various advancements and applications of nanomaterials.

Professor Chad Mirkin is widely recognized for his invention of spherical nucleic acids (SNAs), which are nanostructures composed of nucleic acids in a spherical configuration which enter human cells and tissues and overcome biological barriers, making it possible to detect or treat a disease on the genetic level. More than 1,800 products for medical diagnostics, therapeutics, and life science research were based on this technology. “One vital component of our work aims to use nanotechnology to restructure DNA and RNA into forms that make them more potent medicines for treating debilitating types of cancer and neurological disease. Through this work, we hope to usher in a new era of powerful and precision genetic medicines where we can attack and treat disease at its genetic routes”, said Mirkin in his acceptance speech. He also pioneered artificial intelligence-based materials discovery and invented a method to create patterns directly on different substances with a variety of inks called “dip-pen nanolithography”, which was described by National Geographic as one of the “top 100 scientific discoveries that changed the world”.

As for Professor Jackie Yi-Ru Ying, her research focused on synthesis of advanced nanomaterials and systems, and their application in biomedicine, energy conversion, and catalysis. Her inventions have been used to solve challenges in different fields of medicine, chemistry, and energy. Her development of stimuli-responsive polymeric nanoparticles led to a technology which can autoregulate the release of insulin, depending on the blood glucose levels in diabetic patients without the need for external blood glucose monitoring. “I am deeply honored to be receiving the King Faisal Prize in Science, especially as the first female recipient of this award,” she said in her acceptance speech.

Since 1979, King Faisal Prize in its 5 different categories has awarded 290 laureates who have made distinguished contributions to different sciences and causes. Each prize laureate is endowed with USD 200 thousand (SAR 750,000); a 24-carat gold medal weighing 200 grams, and a Certificate inscribed with the Laureate’s name and a summary of their work which qualified them for the prize.

Two women scientists were announced King Faisal Prize for Medicine and Science laureates for 2023: a Covid-19 vaccine developer and a nanotechnology scientist. Six others were announced King Faisal Prize laureates for having enriched humanity with key and invaluable achievements and discoveries in the fields of Medicine, Science, Arabic Language & Literature, Islamic Studies, and Serving Islam.

The woman behind Oxford–AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, Professor Sarah Gilbert, the Saïd Chair of Vaccinology in the Nuffield Department of Medicine at Oxford University, was selected to receive King Faisal Prize in medicine. She has co-created the vaccine which has been in use in more than 180 countries saving billions of lives due to its efficiency, low cost and accessibility.

The vaccine is called “ChAdOx1 nCoV-19” and was achieved in 10 months of work using a novel approach. Instead of the traditional vaccines’ method which uses a weakened or killed form of the original infection and requires a long time to develop in the human body, Gilbert genetically modified a weakened version of a common virus which caused a cold in chimpanzees to be injected in humans without causing an infection. This modified virus became the essence of the vaccine developed by Dr. Gilbert against coronavirus carrying the genetic instructions for the coronavirus spike protein. When entering the body cells, the virus uses a genetic code or instructions to produce the specific surface spike protein of the coronavirus inducing an immune response and preparing the immune system to attack coronavirus if it infects the body.

Dr. Gilbert’s innovative vaccine technologies used lately for COVID-19 were also applied by her to Malaria, Ebola, Influenza, and MERS, with clinical trials of the latter taking place in the UK and in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. She also worked on developing a medicine for it. In fact, the patented ChAdOx1 technology was developed by Dr. Gilbert and other researchers at the University of Oxford in 2012. In 2014, she led the first trial of an Ebola vaccine after a large outbreak of the disease in West Africa. It was because of the ChAdOx1 technology and her accumulated research that the Oxford–AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine was produced so quickly.

The other woman scientist selected to receive King Faisal Prize in science is Professor Jackie Yi-Ru Ying; the A*STAR Senior Fellow and Director at NanoBio Lab, Agency for Science, Technology, and Research. She was chosen for her work on the synthesis of various advanced nanomaterials and systems, and their applications in catalysis, energy conversion, and biomedicine. Her inventions have been used to solve challenges in different fields of medicine, chemistry, and energy. Her development of stimuli-responsive polymeric nanoparticles led to a technology which can autoregulate the release of insulin, depending on the blood glucose levels in diabetic patients without the need for external blood glucose monitoring. Dr. Ying’s laboratory has pioneered the synthesis of mesoporous and microporous transition metal oxides; a class of nanomaterials used in energy storage and conversion, by supramolecular templating (organizing or assembling entities).

Dr. Ying has more than 180 primary patents and patent applications; 32 of which have been licensed to multinational and start-up companies for a range of applications in nanomedicine, drug delivery, cell and tissue engineering, medical implants, biosensors, medical devices, and others. Her work is at the intersection of nanotechnology and technical medicine and has culminated in the establishment of six successful start-ups and spinoff companies.

Two other Medicine and Science Prize laureates were selected for 2023:  Professor Dan Barouch, the Director of the Center for Virology and Vaccine Research at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and the William Bosworth Castle Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, and Professor Chad Mirkin, the Director of the International Institute for Nanotechnology (IIN) and the Rathmann Professor of Chemistry and Professor of Medicine, Materials Science and Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, and Chemical and Biological Engineering at Northwestern University, respectively.

Professor Dan Barouch developed another COVID-19 viral vector vaccine; the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, using the same technology behind the Oxford–AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine. It was administered to hundreds of millions of people worldwide saving their lives. The vaccine was achieved quickly, like Oxford vaccine, in 13 months and was based on engineering a harmless adenovirus (called Ad26) which was a common type of virus that caused mild cold symptoms when it infected a person. The genetically modified virus carries the genetic code for the coronavirus spike protein. After the injection of adenovirus, the cells use the genetic code and produce a spike protein to train the immune system, creating antibodies and memory cells to protect against COVID-19 infection.

The development of the Ad26 vaccine platform was the result of research work and clinical trials to develop vaccine candidates for multiple pathogens of global significance, including HIV and Zika virus, and tuberculosis, making Professor Barouch a pioneer in the creation of a series of vaccine platform technologies that can be used when developing vaccines for emerging infectious diseases, such as COVID-19. Moreover, he led the world’s first demonstration of Zika vaccine protection in preclinical studies and launched a series of phase 1 Zika vaccine clinical trials.

The work of Professor Chad Mirkin, which has been at the forefront of nano chemistry for over three decades, has helped define the modern age of nanotechnology. He is widely recognized for his invention of spherical nucleic acids (SNAs), which are nanostructures composed of nucleic acids in a spherical configuration which enter human cells and tissues and overcome biological barriers, making it possible to detect or treat a disease on the genetic level. More than 1,800 products for medical diagnostics, therapeutics, and life science research were based on this technology.

Professor Mirkin is a pioneer in the field of artificial intelligence-based materials discovery. He invented dip-pen nanolithography, which was described by National Geographic as one of the “top 100 scientific discoveries that changed the world”; and HARP (high-area rapid printing) technology, a 3D printing process that can manufacture different products like ceramics at record-breaking throughput.

In addition to Medicine and Science, King Faisal Prize recognized this year the achievements of outstanding thinkers and scholars in the fields of Arabic Language & Literature and Islamic Studies, and honored exemplary leaders who played a pivotal role in serving Islam, Muslims, and humanity at large.

Professor Abdelfattah Kilito was announced the laureate for the “Arabic Language and Literature” prize focusing on “Classical Arabic Narrative and Modern Theories”. He has been a visiting professor and lecturer at the New Sorbonne, Harvard University, Princeton University, the University of Chicago, the University of Oxford, and the College de France. Professor Robert Hillenbrand, Honorary Professorial Fellow in the department of Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies (IMES) at the University of Edinburgh, was selected to receive the “Islamic Studies” prize in “Islamic Architecture”. His work was distinguished by its geographic and temporal expansiveness, which covered North Africa, Egypt, Palestine, and Central Asia, and spanned from the early Islamic period till the 19th Century.

As for the Service to Islam Prize, Professor Choi Young Kil-Hamed and His Excellency Shaikh Nasser bin Abdullah Al Zaabi were this year’s laureates.

Since 1979, King Faisal Prize in its 5 different categories has awarded 290 laureates who have made distinguished contributions to different sciences and causes. Each prize laureate is endowed with USD 200 thousand; a 24-carat gold medal weighing 200 grams, and a Certificate inscribed with the Laureate’s name and a summary of their work which qualified them for the prize.

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

With the grace and glory of Allah, the selection committees of the 2023 King Faisal Prize, after meticulous deliberations that were held from Monday 2^ed to Wednesday 4^th of January 2023, have reached the following decisions for the Prize’s five categorize of Service to Islam, Islamic Studies, Arabic language & Literature, Medicine, and Science.

First: King Faisal Prize for The Service to Islam

The King Faisal Prize for Service to Islam for this year 2023 is awarded jointly to:

Professor Choi Young Kil-Hamed

(South Korea)

&

His Excellency Shaikh Nasser bin Abdullah

(UAE)

Professor Choi Young Kil-Hamed is awarded the prize in recognition of his outstanding work in Service to Islam, which included:

– His translation of a large number of Islamic books, noted for their quality, accuracy, clarity, soundness of language and sobriety of style, which contributed to the dissemination of knowledge about the critical aspects of Islamic culture amid Far Eastern societies, specifically among Korean-speaking peoples. Notable among these books is the translation of the meanings of the Noble Qur’an into the Korean language, which was commissioned by the King Fahd Glorious Quran Printing Complex. Some of his other books include “Forty Hadith of an-Nawawi”, “Riyad as-Salihin (The Meadows of the Righteous)”, “ A Short Version of Sahih al-Bukhari”, “The Indexed Dictionary of the Words of the Holy Qur’an”, “Prophet Mohammad”, and several other Arabic language tutorial books for Koreans which are used in a number of Korean universities.

– His advocacy efforts deployed in giving lessons and lectures and organizing courses to introduce and advocate for Islam. He also taught Arabic language and Islamic sciences at the Universities of Myeongji and Hankook for Foreign Studies.

– He is regarded as one of the prominent non-Arabic-speaking advocacy figures in the Asian continent. He enjoys a clear-minded scholarly personality, intellectual openness, moderation and moderateness, which qualified him to be selected to serve as a member of a number of Islamic associations.

– His endeavors in chairing a number of institutions, organizations, and federations, and his membership in a number of councils concerned with Muslim affairs. He is the Chairman of the Korean Islamic Hiba Fund. He also served as Secretary of the Korean Muslim Union and Chairman of its Board of Directors, just as he is a member of the Regional Council for Islamic Da’wa (advocacy) in Southeast Asia and the Pacific, and a member of the World Supreme Council for Mosques, an affiliate of the Muslim World League.

– He received a number of awards, including “King Abdullah bin AbdulAziz International Award for Translation” for his book “Prophet Mohammad”, the Medal of the President of the Democratic Republic of Korea in 2013, and the Korean government’s Medal for Education and Teaching Services in 2014.

His Excellency Shaikh Nasser bin Abdullah Al Zaabi is awarded the prize in recognition of his outstanding work in Service to Islam, which included:

– His efforts in philanthropic and relief work through his membership in a number of charitable associations and institutions and his organization and attendance of conferences, forums and seminars on charitable work. The outcome of these endeavors contributed to the creation of a number of Islamic centers, schools, training centers, hospitals, and dispensaries, in addition to providing care to thousands of orphans, digging hundreds of artesian wells, building a number of dams, launching agricultural projects, and supporting many vulnerable communities in Africa.

– His presidency of the Permanent Council of the Islamic Solidarity Fund (ISF), a subsidiary institution of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). During his presidency, the ISF went through an expansion and diversification of its activities, benefitting Muslim peoples who suffer from diseases, epidemics, and disasters. The number of projects presented by the ISF reached 2775 projects, which have covered developmental, social, educational, economic and emergency sectors, with a total value of US$236.5 million.

– His wise leadership of the Islamic University in Niger through his chairmanship of its Board of Trustees since 2014 and his personal involvement in the university’s activities. The Islamic University of Niger is considered one of the major educational institutions in the Central African region.

– His membership in the Board of Directors of the Islamic University in Uganda, and his tremendous efforts in supporting the university, which has achieved a strong educational standing in East Africa.

– He was awarded a number of medals and decorations in appreciation of his efforts in the field of philanthropic work.

Second: King Faisal Prize for Islamic Studies

The King Faisal Prize for Islamic Studies for this year 2023, Topic: (Islamic Architecture), is awarded to:

Professor Robert Hillenbrand

(United Kingdom)

Professor at The University of Edinburgh

Professor Robert Hillenbrand is awarded the prize in recognition of his outstanding work in Islamic art, which included:

• His work is distinguished by its geographic and temporal expansiveness, which covered North Africa, Egypt, Palestine, and Central Asia, and spanned from the early Islamic period till the 19th Century.
• His use of a distinct methodology for the study of Islamic Architecture, classified by form, function, and meaning.
• His scholarly publications are distinguished by rigor, analysis, and comparison, which makes them a major contribution and a key reference in the field of Islamic architecture.

Third: King Faisal Prize for Arabic Language and Literature

The King Faisal Prize for Arabic Language and Literature for this year 2023, Topic: (Classical Arabic Narrative and Modern Theories) is awarded to:

Professor Abdelfattah Kilito

(Morocco)

Professor at Mohammed V University

Professor Abdelfattah Kilito is awarded the prize in recognition of his outstanding work in the field of Classical Arabic, which included:

• He creatively and extensively elucidated different genres in Classical Arabic Narrative.
• He embodied modern critical approaches within his vision, in a novel and creative method, exploring areas in the Classical Arab Narrative that evaded many before.
• His distinctive ability presents the Arabic narrative to the general reader in a clear and precise manner.

Fourth: King Faisal Prize for Medicine

The King Faisal Prize for Medicine for this year 2023, Topic: (Pandemics and Vaccine Development), is awarded jointly to:

Professor Dan Hung Barouch

(United States of America)

Professor at Harvard University

Professor Dan Hung Barouch is awarded the prize in recognition of his major contribution to our understanding of the immunology and pathogenesis of viral infections. He has developed novel vaccine and treatment strategies against multiple pathogens of global significance, including HIV-1, Zika virus, tuberculosis, and most recently SARS-CoV-2.

Professor Sarah Catherine Gilbert

(United Kingdom)

Professor at University of Oxford

Professor Sarah Catherine Gilbert is awarded the prize for developing innovative vaccine technologies and applying them to malaria, Ebola, influenza, MERS and lately SARS-CoV2. This latter vaccine has achieved a wide geographical distribution due to its effectiveness and low cost, making it accessible to billions of people. It has greatly participated to vaccine equity worldwide.

Fifth: King Faisal Prize for Science

The King Faisal Prize for Science for this year 2023 Topic: (Chemistry), is awarded jointly to:

Professor Jackie Yi-Ru Ying

(United States of America)

Professor at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

&

Professor Chad Alexander Mirkin

(United States of America)

Professor at Northwestern University

Professor Jackie Yi-Ru Ying is awarded the prize for the synthesis of various advanced nanomaterials and systems, and their applications in catalysis, energy conversion, and biomedicine. Namely, Ying’s laboratory has pioneered the synthesis of mesoporous and microporous transition metal oxides by supramolecular templating. For example, she has developed stimuli-responsive polymeric nanoparticles that allow for insulin delivery to diabetic patients only when their blood sugar levels are high, without the need for external blood sugar monitoring. Her accomplishments in the field of nanocarriers for therapeutic purposes is of great benefit to society. Her work is at the intersection of nanotechnology and technical medicine and has culminated in the establishment of six successful start-ups and spinoff companies.

Professor Chad Alexander Mirkin is awarded the prize for his outstanding contribution in introducing the concept of nanoparticles as atoms and DNA as bonds to design functional crystalline macroscopic materials, and enriching the repertoire of chemistry and material tools, and defining the modern age of nanotechnology.

His work has laid the groundwork for new fields in chemistry and materials science, offering new ways of thinking about chemically programming the formation of matter. Namely, through his complementary contact model, Mirkin has formulated fundamental design rules that permitted the construction of hundreds of different crystal types, spanning over 70 different crystal symmetries, including many that do not exist in nature, like quasicrystals. Such megalibraries can be used to rapidly design, synthesize, screen, and identify new nanoarchitectures with almost any desired chemical and/or physical property. His work is interdisciplinary and spans medical diagnostics and therapeutics area. His spherical nuclei acid is being deployed as the basis for various therapeutic lead structures in human clinical trials, offering life-improving treatments for many forms of cancers as well as other diseases with a known genetic basis.

The General Secretariat of King Faisal Prize commends the 2023 esteemed Laureates and offers its sincere gratitude to the distinguished members of the selection committees, the referees, and the experts of this year’s session for their highly valued contributions. The General Secretariat also extends its appreciation to all organizations and institutions that have graciously collaborated with it in submitting their nominations and the members of the media for their continued interest in the Prize’s activities.

May Allah look favorably on those devoting their time and effort in virtue to the betterment of humanity.

King Faisal Prize is announcing the names of its 2023 laureates on the 4th of January. In preparation for the announcement, specialized selection committees of the prize’s 4 categories– Islamic Studies, Arabic Language & Literature, Medicine, and Science will start their meetings in the Prize’s headquarters in Riyadh on the 2nd of January 2022 and will continue until the 4th. On the 4th of January, His Royal Highness Prince Khalid Bin Faisal Bin Abdulaziz, Chairman of King Faisal Prize Board, will chair the committee meeting to select the laureate of the Service to Islam prize.

The General Secretariat had earlier announced the topics of the 45th session of the King Faisal Prize in the following topics: Islamic Studies “Islamic Architecture”; Arabic Language & Literature “Classical Arabic Narrative and Modern Theories”; Medicine “Pandemics and Vaccine Development”; and Science “Chemistry”.

The General Secretariat also pointed out that nominations are made by scientific institutions, universities, research centres as well as scientific and language councils, provided the nominated individual is alive and their nominated work is already published. The work should also be informative and contribute to the enrichment of knowledge for the development of humanity.

The Prize selection committees include more than 40 specialists, scientists, and public figures, coming from 26 different countries to meet in Riyadh and examine the nominated works to select the laureates in an objective and transparent manner, in accordance with the rules and regulations developed by the General Secretariat of the Prize.

The members of the selection committee for the Service to Islam Prize, chaired by His Royal Highness Prince Khalid Bin Faisal Bin Abdulaziz, Chairman of King Faisal Prize Board, include a group of leading scholars in Islamic law and jurisprudence.

HRH Prince Khalid Al-Faisal will announce the names of the chosen prize laureates for 2023 in the five different categories on Wednesday January 4.

Selection Committees to meet at King Faisal Prize headquarters to select its laureates in Islamic Studies,
Arabic Language & Literature, Medicine, and Science

HRH Prince Khalid Al-Faisal to chair committee meeting to select laureate in Service to Islam

Names Announcement ceremony to be held on 5 January 2022

Riyadh, KSA, January 2, 2022:

King Faisal Prize is announcing the names of its 2022 laureates on the 5^th of January in Riyadh. In preparation for the announcement, specialized selection committees of the prize’s 4 categories– Islamic Studies, Arabic Language & Literature, Medicine, and Science will start their meetings in the Prize’s headquarters on the 3^rd of January 2022 and will continue until the 5^th. On the 5^th of January, His Royal Highness Prince Khalid Al-Faisal Bin Abd Al-Aziz, Chairman of King Faisal Prize Board, will chair the committee meeting to select the laureate of the Service to Islam prize.

The General Secretariat had earlier announced the topics of the 44^th session of the King Faisal Prize in the following topics: Islamic Studies “Andalus’ Islamic Heritage”; Arabic Language & Literature “Arabic literature Studies in English”; Medicine “Gene Editing Technologies”; and Science “Mathematics”.

The General Secretariat also pointed out that nominations are made by scientific institutions, universities, research canters as well as scientific and language councils, provided the nominated individual is alive and their nominated work is already published. The work should also be informative and contribute to the enrichment of knowledge for the development of humanity. Nominations are not accepted from individuals or political parties.

The Prize selection committees include specialists, scientists, and public figures, coming from 26 different countries to meet in Riyadh and examine the nominated works to select the laureates in an objective and transparent manner, in accordance with the rules and regulations developed by the General Secretariat of the Prize.

The members of the selection committee for the Service to Islam Prize, chaired by His Royal Highness Prince Khalid Al-Faisal Bin Abd Al-Aziz, Chairman of King Faisal Prize Board, include His Excellency the Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Dr. Hussein Ibrahim Taha, His Excellency the Secretary-General of the Muslim World League, Dr. Muhammad bin Abdul Karim Al-Issa, the President of Al-Azhar University Dr. Muhammad Al-Mahrasawi, His Excellency the Secretary-General of the Muhammadiyah League of Scholars in Morocco, Dr. Ahmed Ebadi, the President of Scholars and the General Mufti of Bosnia and Herzegovina, His Eminence Sheikh Husein Kavazović, His Excellency the Secretary-General of the International Islamic Fiqh Academy, Prof. Koutoub Moustapha Sano, and His Eminence the President of Fatani University Dr. Ismail Lutfi Javakia.

HRH Prince Khalid Al-Faisal and King Faisal Prize Secretary General Dr. Abdulaziz Alsebail will announce the names of the chosen prize laureates for 2022 in the five different categories in a ceremony that will be held on Wednesday 5 January at Prince Sultan Grand Hall in AlFaisaliah Hotel in the presence of the members of the selection committees as well as a number of guests and media specialists.

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About King Faisal Prize:

King Faisal Prize was established in 1977 by the King Faisal Foundation; a philanthropic organization founded in 1976 by the sons and daughters of the late King Faisal bin Abdulaziz, as a tribute to their father. The Prize was granted for the first time in 1979, aiming to recognize distinguished initiatives that instil Islamic values in the society and contribute to the development of Muslim communities as well as the overall progress of mankind.

Under the auspices of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz, King Faisal Prize award ceremony will be held on December 28 in Riyadh to honor the laureates of 2020 and 2021. Ten top-notch scholars, scientists, innovators, and thought leaders, who have made outstanding and groundbreaking discoveries and contributions in the fields of: Service to Islam, Islamic studies, Arabic Language and Literature, Medicine, and Science, will meet in Riyadh to receive their King Faisal Prize in its 5 different categories.

The Service to Islam prize laureate for 2020 is The Makkah Charter, a historic constitution enshrining the values of coexistence and peace among various religions and cultures.

The 2021 Service to Islam prize laureate is Mr. Mohamed Abdulrahman Al-Sharikh, Chairman of Sakhr Software Company, who has played a prominent role in instilling the spirit of research, creativity, and innovation to preserve the heritage of the Muslim community through the production of the first software for the Holy Qur’an.  He has also been a pioneer in developing different computer programs for Arabic language like the contemporary electronic dictionary, the Arabic editor program, the automated Arabic pronunciation program, and the Arabic e-translation program.

The Islamic Studies prize for 2020 on “Islamic Heritage of Al Quds” will be received by Dr. Mohammed Hashim Ghosheh, a historian and an architect who has contributed to more than 150 research works and studies about Al-Quds (Jerusalem) and its Arabo-Islamic heritage. He has also authored some 37 historical and documentary books on Al-Quds Al-Sharif highlighting its historical, intellectual, architectural, and heritage values. His most outstanding “Encyclopedia of Palestine” in English contains extensive material regarding Jerusalem.

The Islamic Studies prize for year 2021 on Endowment in Islam; however, is withheld.

As for the Arabic Language and Literature prize, Professor Michael Carter is the 2020 laureate for the topic “Linguistic Studies on Arabic in Other Languages”. His research into Arabic linguistics, which span over 50 years, is considered one of the most significant contributions to the study of the Arabic grammatical tradition and a key resource for linguistic research outside the Arab world.

Professor Mohamed Mechbal, a professor of rhetoric and literary criticism at Abdul-Malik al-Saadi University, Morocco, is the 2021 laureate in Arabic Language and Literature. His work, which is characterized by depth, novelty, and originality, aligns with this year’s prize category’s theme “The New Rhetoric”. Inspired by his vision which calls for renewal, his works have sought to link rhetorical research to the fields of literature, language, and communication, and have laid the foundation for the inception of modern Arab rhetoric.

The hematologist-oncologist and geneticist Stuart Orkin, M.D., David G. Nathan Distinguished Professor of Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School, and an Investigator of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, is the 2020 Medicine laureate in the topic of “Haemoglobinopathies”. His pioneering discoveries of the genetic underpinnings of blood disorders have guided encouraging therapies for inherited blood disorders that affect millions of people around the world with thalassemia and sickle cell disease. These discoveries have also revolutionized the understanding around how such illnesses occur.

The 2021 Medicine laureates are two professors sharing the prize for their works on “Regenerative Medicine in Neurological Conditions”.  The laureate Robin James Franklin is the professor of Stem Cell Medicine at the Wellcome Trust-Medical Research Council Cambridge Stem Cell Institute and the Director of the UK MS Society Cambridge Centre for Myelin Repair at the University of Cambridge. The laureate Stephen Mark Strittmatter is a professor of Neuroscience at Yale School of Medicine, and the Founding Director of Yale Cellular Neuroscience, Neurodegeneration and Repair Program, Yale Alzheimer Disease Research Center, and Yale Memory Disorders Clinic.

Professor Franklin has made outstanding contributions to the biology of “myelin” (an insulating fatty layer that forms around nerves to allow electrical impulses to transmit quickly and efficiently) leading to important applications for clinical neurology, especially “multiple sclerosis”. He has been a pioneer in the biology of “remyelination” (regenerating myelin), an area in which he is widely acknowledged as the world’s leading expert.

Professor Strittmatter has made significant contributions to the field of neural repair and the molecular understanding of failed axonal growth and limited recovery following spinal cord injury. He has worked on Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, and other disorders of memory functions, and has translated his discoveries to develop new therapeutic approaches to achieve regeneration in the central nervous system.

Science laureates for years 2020 (Biology) and 2021 (Physics) are Professor Xiaodong Wang; the Director of the National Institute of Biological Sciences at Beijing, and Professor Stuart Stephen Parkin; the Director at the Max Planck Institute of Microstructure Physics at Halle, Germany, respectively.

Professor Xiaodong Wang’s unique work has changed the understanding of how cell death is regulated in growing and mature organisms and has contributed to new insights for the therapeutic modulation of cell death for treating life threatening diseases.

Professor Stuart Parkin’s fundamental discoveries and innovations in the field of spintronics have revolutionized computers resulting in 1,000-fold increase in the storage capacity of magnetic disk drives. His research facilitated sharing films and pictures via networks or computer clouds, making them available to groups of networked computers and enabling the “big data revolution”. His work helped solve intractable problems that depend on fast access to vast quantities of data through machine learning and artificial intelligence.

Since 1979, King Faisal Prize has awarded over 270 laureates from more than 40 different nationalities who have made distinguished contributions to serving Islam, Muslims, and humanity at large, and who have conducted outstanding research and made pivotal discoveries and findings in major fields of Science, Medicine, Islamic Studies, and Arabic Language & Literature.

Each prize category out of the 5 different categories is endowed with SAR 750 thousand (an equivalent of USD200 thousand); a 24 carat gold medal, weighing 200 grams, with one side bearing the liking of King Faisal and the prize category written in Arabic, and the other side holding the logo of the prize and the prize category in English; and a Certificate written in Arabic calligraphy signed by the Chairman of the Prize board, His Royal Highness Prince Khalid Al-Faisal, inscribed with the Laureate’s name and a summary of his/her work which qualified him/her for the prize.