American scientist Professor David Liu has received the $3 million Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences. The award honors his groundbreaking work in gene editing. Liu, a researcher at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, developed two new tools—base editing and prime editing—that can fix genetic problems at the DNA level.
These tools allow doctors and scientists to correct the mutations that cause many serious illnesses. They offer new hope for people suffering from diseases that were once thought to be untreatable.
A Life-Saving Technology
One of Liu’s biggest achievements was already tested in real life. In 2022, doctors at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London used his gene editing method to save a teenager’s life.
Thirteen-year-old Alyssa Tapley was fighting a rare and aggressive form of leukemia. Standard treatments like chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant had failed. Doctors turned to a new treatment that involved editing donor immune cells to attack her cancer.
The gene-edited cells were designed to find and kill the cancer without harming Alyssa. It worked. Over two years later, she remains completely cancer-free. Her story has become a symbol of what gene editing can do for people in desperate need.
Fixing DNA Like Fixing a Sentence
Liu’s base editing tool works by changing just one letter of DNA. This is helpful because many genetic diseases are caused by a single mistake in the DNA code. Base editing allows scientists to fix those small errors with high accuracy.
The second tool, prime editing, is even more advanced. It works like the “search and replace” function on a computer. It can find a problem in the DNA and swap it with a correct version. This method can fix longer sections of the DNA code.
Together, these tools can correct many of the mutations that lead to genetic diseases. Liu believes that most known disease-causing DNA errors can be treated using one of the two methods.
Clinical Trials Show Promise
Doctors and researchers are now testing these tools in more than a dozen clinical trials. Some of the conditions they are targeting include leukemia, sickle-cell disease, beta-thalassemia, and high cholesterol. These diseases affect millions of people worldwide.
While early results are promising, there are still challenges. One big problem is how to deliver the gene edits safely into the human body. Right now, some treatments require removing cells from a patient, editing them in the lab, and putting them back. This works well for diseases like leukemia. But for other illnesses, scientists need to find ways to edit genes directly inside the body.
Even with these hurdles, the medical world is watching closely. If Liu’s tools prove safe and effective, they could change the way we treat diseases forever.
A Scientist with a Curious Mind
David Liu’s path to success began in Riverside, California. As a child, he spent hours exploring nature in his backyard. That early love of science stayed with him.
At Harvard, Liu studied under Nobel Prize winner E.J. Corey. He focused on molecular science, working to understand how molecules behave and how to change them. Outside the lab, Liu is known for having a playful side. He once built a machine out of LEGO bricks to launch toy mice. He also learned how to count cards in blackjack so well that he was banned from several casinos in Las Vegas.
His creativity and curiosity have helped him push the limits of science. He often blends serious research with light-hearted experiments, showing that science can be fun as well as life-changing.
Supporting His Team and Giving Back
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, Liu has donated all of his post-tax salary from Harvard each year. At first, he gave the money to his lab team so they could buy bikes and avoid using public transport during the health crisis. Later, he used his earnings to support his students and help fund their work.
He also started a foundation to support scientific research. Liu believes in investing in young scientists and building strong teams that can make big discoveries.
A Warning for the Future
Even as he accepts one of science’s top honors, Liu has raised a red flag. He is worried about funding cuts and job losses in science. He believes that cutting science budgets could harm future generations.
“Cutting funding to science is like burning your seed corn,” Liu said. “What could be more human than using all our knowledge and effort to make the lives of our children safer and better than our own?”
His message is clear: science needs support. Without enough funding and jobs, young scientists may be forced to leave the field. This could slow down progress in medicine, technology, and other areas that improve human life.
A Bright Future for Gene Editing
Thanks to David Liu and his team, gene editing is entering a new chapter. His work blends precision, safety, and hope for millions. As more clinical trials begin, the world will be watching to see just how far these tools can go.
