The Institute for Regenerative Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania has awarded the Elaine Redding Brinster Prize in Science or Medicine to Zhijian 'James' Chen, PhD, a biochemist at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas—for his groundbreaking discovery of the DNA-sensing enzyme cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGas) and its role in immune and inflammatory response.
Chen's 2012 discovery of the cGAS enzyme shed light on a new area of science by showing how our immune system spots harmful DNA from germs, like bacteria or viruses, and starts fighting them. He found that cGAS grabs onto this DNA and creates a signal (called cGAMP) that wakes up the body to produce immune chemicals to attack infections and cancers. However, this same process can go wrong and cause diseases like lupus, arthritis, or Alzheimer's when the body's own DNA gets into the wrong place. Chen's discovery of this process offers new possibilities for treatments to help people with these and other conditions, including cancer.
"Dr. Chen's discovery has opened up a foundational understanding of how cells combat invaders that cause human ailments," said Ken Zaret, PhD, director of Penn's Institute for Regenerative Medicine and the Joseph Leidy Professor of Cell and Developmental Biology in the Perelman School of Medicine. "We are thrilled that the Brinster Prize is now in its fifth year and growing acclaim for bringing attention to the creative work of the world's best scientists like Dr. Chen."
