生命科学ブレイクスルー賞 (Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences) は、2013年2月20日に創設されたブレイクスルー賞の一部門の学術賞"Art Levinson, Sergey Brin and Anne Wojcicki, Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan, and Yuri Milner Announce the Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences", BPLS website.。ユーリ・ミルナー（ロシアの著名投資家。デジタル・スカイ・テクノロジーの創業者）の提唱により創設された。創設者は、アーサー・D・レヴィンソン（Apple会長）、サーゲイ・ブリン（Googleの共同創業者）、アン・ウォジツキー（遺伝情報解析企業23andMeの創業者。ブリンの妻）、マーク・ザッカーバーグ（Facebookの創業者）、プリシラ・チャン（ザッカーバーグの妻）、ユーリ・ミルナーである。
ブレイクスルー賞にはこの他に数学ブレイクスルー賞と基礎物理学ブレイクスルー賞がある。
概要 同賞は、難病を治療したり人間の寿命を延ばしたりする上で顕著な功績のあった研究者に授与され、各受賞者に賞金300万ドルが贈られる"Rules", BPLS website.。受賞資格に年齢制限はなく、複数の人物が共有できる。また、同一人物が複数回受賞することを妨げない。ノーベル生理学・医学賞は「難病の治療」や「人間の寿命」には必ずしも直結しない研究も受賞対象となる（例えば1973年には動物行動学上の業績に授与された）が、この賞は表彰対象をより狭く絞っているところに特徴がある。
同賞の創設と同時に、賞を運営する非営利団体「生命科学ブレイクスルー賞財団 (Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences Foundation) 」の設立、及び2013年の受賞者11名が発表された。財団の理事長はレヴィンソンが務める。受賞者は次年度以降の選考委員を務める予定。選考過程の透明性を確保するため、2回目以降の選考に際しては、誰でもオンラインで候補者を推薦できるようにする。
創設者の1人ザッカーバーグは同賞について、「社会奉仕事業のモデルとしての基盤を提供し、世界中の人たちがより良い機会を得られるようになる可能性を秘めた賞だと確信している」と述べた。
受賞者 年肖像氏名国籍受賞理由2013年コーネリア・バーグマンCornelia Bargmann神経回路、神経作用、及びシナプス指標分子に関する遺伝研究により"Laureates", BPLS website.デイヴィッド・ボットシュタインDavid BotsteinDNA多型を用いた、ヒトにおけるメンデル性疾患の連鎖地図作成によりルイス・カントレーLewis C. CantleyPI3キナーゼの発見、及び癌代謝におけるPI3キナーゼの役割の発見によりハンス・クレヴァースHans Clevers組織幹細胞と癌におけるWntシグナル伝達の役割の解明によりティティア・デ・ランゲTitia de Langeテロメアが染色体末端を保護する仕組み、及び癌罹患時のゲノム不安定性におけるテロメアの役割を明らかにする研究によりナポレオーネ・フェラーラNapoleone Ferrara、癌や眼疾患の治療に繋がる血管新生のメカニズムの発見によりエリック・ランダーEric S. Landerヒトの疾患遺伝子を同定すると共に、ヒトゲノムの遺伝、身体及び塩基配列に関する地図の作成と解析を通じて医学への応用を可能にする、一般原理の発見によりチャールズ・ソーヤーズCharles L. Sawyers癌遺伝子及び分子標的治療によりバート・フォーゲルシュタインBert Vogelstein癌ゲノミクス及び癌抑制遺伝子によりロバート・ワインバーグRobert Weinbergヒト癌遺伝子の特性解析により山中伸弥人工多能性幹細胞により2014年ジェームズ・P・アリソンJames P. AllisonT細胞チェックポイント阻害が有効ながん治療法であることの発見によりMahlon DeLongfor defining the interlocking circuits in the brain that malfunction in Parkinson's disease. This scientific foundation underlies the circuit-based treatment of Parkinson's disease by deep brain stimulation.マイケル・ホールMichael N. Hall、for the discovery of Target of Rapamycin (TOR) and its role in cell growth control.ロバート・ランガーRobert S. Langerfor discoveries leading to the development of controlled drug-release systems and new biomaterials.Richard P. Liftonfor the discovery of genes and biochemical mechanisms that cause hypertension.アレクサンダー・バーシャフスキーAlexander Varshavskyfor discovering critical molecular determinants and biological functions of intracellular protein degradation.2015年Alim-Louis Benabidfor the discovery and pioneering work on the development of high-frequency deep brain stimulation (DBS),which has revolutionized the treatment of Parkinson’s disease.チャールズ・デビッド・アリスCharles David Allisfor the discovery of covalent modifications of histone proteins and their critical roles in the regulation of gene expression and chromatin organization,advancing the understanding of diseases ranging from birth defects to cancer.ヴィクター・アンブロスVictor Ambrosfor the discovery of a new world of genetic regulation by microRNAs, a class of tiny RNA molecules that inhibit translation or destabilize complementary mRNA targets.ゲイリー・ラヴカンGary Ruvkunジェニファー・ダウドナJennifer Doudnafor harnessing an ancient mechanism of bacterial immunity into a powerful and general Technology for editing genomes, with wide-ranging implications across biology and medicine.エマニュエル・シャルパンティエEmmanuelle Charpentier2016年Edward Boydenfor the development and implementation of optogenetics – the programming of neurons to express light-activated ion channels and pumps, so that their electrical activity can be controlled by light.カール・ダイセロスKarl Deisserothジョン・ハーディーJohn Hardy、for discovering mutations in the Amyloid Precursor Protein gene (APP) that cause early onset Alzheimer’s disease, linking accumulation of APP-derived beta-amyloid peptide to Alzheimer’s pathogenesis and inspiring new strategies for disease prevention.ヘレン・ホッブスHelen Hobbsfor the discovery of human genetic variants that alter the levels and distribution of cholesterol and other lipids, inspiring new approaches to the prevention of cardiovascular and liver disease.スバンテ・ペーボSvante Pääbofor pioneering the sequencing of ancient DNA and ancient genomes, thereby illuminating the origins of modern humans, our relationships to extinct relatives such as Neanderthals, and the evolution of human populations and traits.2017年スティーブン・エレッジStephen Elledgefor elucidating how eukaryotic cells sense and respond to damage in their DNA and providing insights into the development and treatment of cancer.Harry F. Nollerfor discovering the centrality of RNA in forming the active centers of the ribosome, the fundamental machinery of protein synthesis in all cells, thereby connecting modern biology to the origin of life and also explaining how many natural antibiotics disrupt protein synthesis.Roel Nussefor pioneering research on the Wnt pathway, one of the crucial intercellular signaling systems in development, cancer and stem cell biology.大隅良典for elucidating autophagy, the recycling system that cells use to generate nutrients from their own inessential or damaged components.フーダ・ゾービHuda Zoghbifor discoveries of the genetic causes and biochemical mechanisms of spinocerebellar ataxia and Rett syndrome, findings that have provided insight into the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative and neurological diseases.2018年ジョアン・コリーJoanne Choryfor discovering how plants optimize their growth, development, and cellular structure to transform sunlight into chemical energy.Peter Walter、for elucidating the unfolded protein response, a cellular quality-control system that detects disease-causing unfolded proteins and directs cells to take corrective measures.森和俊for elucidating the unfolded protein response, a cellular quality-control system that detects disease-causing unfolded proteins and directs cells to take corrective measures.Kim Nasmythfor elucidating the sophisticated mechanism that mediates the perilous separation of duplicated chromosomes during cell division and thereby prevents genetic diseases such as cancer.Don W. Clevelandfor elucidating the molecular pathogenesis of a type of inherited ALS, including the role of glia in neurodegeneration, and for establishing antisense oligonucleotide therapy in animal models of ALS and Huntington disease.2019年C. Frank Bennettfor the development of an effective antisense oligonucleotide therapy for children with the neurodegenerative disease spinal muscular atrophy.エイドリアン・クレイナーAdrian R. Krainer、for the development of an effective antisense oligonucleotide therapy for children with the neurodegenerative disease spinal muscular atrophy.Angelika Amonfor determining the consequences of aneuploidy, an abnormal chromosome number resulting from chromosome mis-segregation.荘小威Xiaowei Zhuang、for discovering hidden structures in cells by developing super-resolution imaging – a method that transcends the fundamental spatial resolution limit of light microscopy.陳志堅Zhijian Chenfor elucidating how DNA triggers immune and autoimmune responses from the interior of a cell through the discovery of the DNA-sensing enzyme cGAS.2020年ジェフリー・フリードマンJeffrey M. Friedmanfor the discovery of a new endocrine system through which adipose tissue signals the brain to regulate food intake.フランツ＝ウルリッヒ・ハートルFranz-Ulrich Hartlfor discovering functions of molecular chaperones in mediating protein folding and preventing protein aggregation.Arthur L. Horwichデヴィッド・ジュリアスDavid Juliusfor discovering molecules, cells, and mechanisms underlying pain sensation.Virginia Man-Yee Leefor discovering TDP43 protein aggregates in frontotemporal dementia and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and revealing that different forms of alpha-synuclein, in different cell types, underlie Parkinson’s disease and Multiple System Atrophy.2021年デイヴィッド・ベイカーDavid Bakerfor developing technology that allowed the design of proteins never seen before in nature, including novel proteins that have the potential for therapeutic intervention in human diseases.キャサリン・デュラックCatherine Dulacfor deconstructing the complex behavior of parenting to the level of cell-types and their wiring, and demonstrating that the neural circuits governing both male and female-specific parenting behaviors are present in both sexes. 盧煜明Dennis Lofor discovering that fetal DNA is present in maternal blood and can be used for the prenatal testing of trisomy 21 and other genetic disorders.Richard J. Youlefor elucidating a quality control pathway that clears damaged mitochondria and thereby protects against Parkinson’s Disease.2022年ジェフリー・ケリーJeffery W.Kellyfor elucidating the molecular basis of neurodegenerative and cardiac transthyretin diseases, and for developing tafamidis, a drug that slows their progression.カリコー・カタリンKatalin Karikófor engineering modified RNA technology which enabled rapid development of effective COVID-19 vaccines. ドリュー・ワイスマンDrew Weissmanシャンカー・バラスブラマニアンShankar Balasubramanianfor the development of a robust and affordable method to determine DNA sequences on a massive scale, which has transformed the practice of science and medicine.David KlenermanPascal Mayer2023年クリフォード・ブラングウィンClifford P. BrangwynneFor discovering a fundamental mechanism of cellular organization mediated by phase separation of proteins and RNA into membraneless liquid droplets.Anthony A. Hymanデミス・ハサビスDemis HassabisFor developing a deep learning AI method that rapidly and accurately predicts the three-dimensional structure of proteins from their amino acid sequence.ジョン・M・ジャンパーJohn M. Jumperエマニュエル・ミニョーEmmanuel MignotFor discovering that narcolepsy is caused by the loss of a small population of brain cells that make a wake-promoting substance, paving the way for the development of new treatments for sleep disorders.柳沢正史Masashi Yanagisawa2024年カール・ジューンCarl H. JuneFor the development of chimeric antigen receptor T cell immunotherapy whereby the patient’s T cells are modified to target and kill cancer cells. ミシェル・サデランMichel SadelainSabine HadidaFor developing life-transforming drug combinations that repair the defective chloride channel protein in patients with cystic fibrosis.Paul NegulescuFredrick Van GoorThomas GasserFor identifying GBA1 and LRRK2 as risk genes for Parkinson’s disease, implicating autophagy and lysosomal biology as critical contributors to the pathogenesis of the disease.Ellen SidranskyAndrew Singleton2025年ダニエル・J・ドラッカーDaniel J. DruckerFor the discovery and characterization of GLP-1 and revealing its physiology and potential in treating diabetes and obesityジョエル・ハベナーJoel HabenerJens Juul HolstLotte Bjerre Knudsenスヴェトラーナ・モイソフSvetlana MojsovAlberto AscherioFor establishing the role of B cells in multiple sclerosis and developing B-cell based treatments, and for revealing that Epstein-Barr virus infection is the leading risk for multiple sclerosis.Stephen L. Hauserデイヴィッド・リウDavid R. LiuFor developing base editing and prime editing, technologies that edit the DNA of living systems without cutting the DNA double helix, and rewrite segments of genes at their native locations, enabling the correction or replacement of virtually any mutation.2026年Jean BennettFor developing a therapy for inherited retinal degeneration that became the first FDA-approved gene therapy for a genetic disease.Katherine A. HighAlbert Maguireステュアート・オーキン Stuart H. OrkinFor elucidating the mechanism driving the switch from fetal to adult hemoglobin and validating it as a therapeutic target for sickle-cell disease and beta-thalassemia.Swee Lay Thein Rosa RademakersFor the discovery of the most common genetic cause of ALS and frontotemporal dementia which charted the path for new mechanistic studies of these diseases.Bryan Traynor
関連項目 ブレイクスルー賞 基礎物理学ブレイクスルー賞 数学ブレイクスルー賞
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