We are delighted to learn of the The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences to give the 2020 Nobel Prize in Chemistry to Emmanuelle Charpentier and Jennifer A. Doudna. Their pioneering work in the development of the CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing technique is still relatively recent, but has already led to substantial developments across the life sciences. This ground-breaking innovation has been recognised with numerous other awards, although the Nobel Prize carries its own unique status.
Doudna and Charpentier are breaking ground in other ways too. This is the first time the Nobel Chemistry prize has been shared by female scientists only.
The technology remains the subject of conflicting patent rights, with the Broad Institute claiming ownership of important aspects of its application.