Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of META (formerly Facebook), is celebrating two scientists, Carl June and Michel Sadelain, for their groundbreaking work in cancer treatment. The immunologists were announced as winners of the prestigious Breakthrough Prize award, which recognizes outstanding achievements in life sciences, fundamental physics, and mathematics.
Carl June and Michel Sadelain are renowned for their work in genetically engineering T cells, a crucial component of the immune system, with synthetic receptors called chimeric antigen receptors (CARs). These engineered CAR T cells are designed to recognize and target cancer cells specific to individual patients.
The Breakthrough Prize website described their work, stating that CAR T cells have achieved remarkable success rates in treating liquid cancers, including certain types of leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma. Some patients have experienced complete tumor eradication, with no recurrence of cancer years after treatment.
Mark Zuckerberg, along with his wife Priscilla, created the Breakthrough Prize to honor scientists who are pushing the boundaries of scientific research. In a Facebook post, Zuckerberg congratulated the laureates and highlighted the significant progress they have made in understanding the causes of major diseases and developing innovative treatments. He specifically commended Carl June and Michel Sadelain for their work in engineering T cells to effectively target and eliminate cancer cells.