The Technion-Israel Institute of Technology will award the Harvey Prize in Science and Technology to Prof. Stephen Baylin, Prof. Peter Jones, and Prof. Andrew Feinberg for their groundbreaking work in cancer epigenetics.
Epigenetics focuses on changes in genome activity that are independent of the DNA sequence. Epigenetics explains how identical DNA sequences can produce different outcomes, with fundamental implications in diverse aspects of health and disease. One of the epigenetic processes extensively studied by this year’s Harvey Prize laureates is DNA methylation.
DNA methylation plays a role in determining which genes are silenced, and which can be switched on to produce proteins. The correct methylation markers are essential for life-long health, influencing embryonic development, cell division, cellular health, responses to environmental changes, and more. Disruptions in methylation can cause serious health problems, including cancer, diabetes, heart disease, brain disorders, and autoimmune diseases.
The individual and collaborative work of the three laureates has revolutionized our understanding of the role of epigenetics in cell differentiation and function. Their work, which integrates epigenetics with discoveries related to genetic processes, has transformed outdated paradigms about cancer development and disproved the traditional notion that the disease is driven solely by genetic mutations. Therapeutics based on their discoveries on the epigenome are already saving lives and improving patients’ quality of life. This integration of basic science and applied medicine led to the decision to award the Harvey Prize in Science and Technology to Prof. Stephen Baylin, Prof. Peter Jones, and Prof. Andrew Feinberg.
About the Laureates
Prof. Stephen Baylin, the Virginia and D.K. Ludwig Professor for Cancer Research at the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, was born in North Carolina. He completed his M.D. at Duke University, followed by research training at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and postdoctoral studies at Johns Hopkins. A member of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, Prof. Baylin has received numerous awards, including the Shubitz Cancer Research Prize from the University of Chicago, the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Kirk A. Landon Award for Basic Cancer Research, and the American Cancer Society’s Medal of Honor.
Prof. Peter Jones, from Van Andel Institute in Michigan, was born in South Africa, raised in Zimbabwe, and completed his Ph.D. at the University of London. Currently president and chief scientific officer of Van Andel Institute, he studies the relationships between DNA methylation, gene expression, and cell differentiation. His accolades include the American Cancer Society’s Medal of Honor, the AACR Kirk A. Landon Award for Basic Cancer Research, past presidency of the AACR, and elections to the American Association for the Advancement of Science, U.S. National Academy of Sciences, the U.S. National Academy of Medicine, the American Academy of Arts & Sciences and the AACR Academy.
Prof. Andrew Feinberg, a research professor at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, was born in Pennsylvania. He earned his M.D. through the accelerated medical program at Johns Hopkins and an M.P.H. in public health. He conducted postdoctoral research in developmental biology at the University of California San Diego, medical training at the University of Pennsylvania, and advanced studies in genetics at Johns Hopkins. His numerous honors include honorary doctorates from the University of Amsterdam, University of Uppsala, and Karolinska Institute, the NIH Director’s Pioneer Award, a fellowship in the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and membership in the U.S. National Academy of Medicine.
Technion President Prof. Uri Sivan said, “The Technion awards the Harvey Prize to researchers whose work makes a significant contribution to humanity and human welfare. The pioneering work of these three researchers has transformed the field of epigenetics, revealing its vital impact on cellular function and the onset and progression of disease, particularly cancer. Their studies have paved the way for new diagnostic approaches and accelerated the development of treatments targeting epigenetic mechanisms.”
About the Harvey Prize
The Harvey Prize, the Technion’s most prestigious award, was established in 1971 by industrialist and inventor Leo Harvey (1887–1973), a devoted friend of the Technion and the State of Israel. The prize is awarded annually for outstanding achievements in science, technology, and human health, and for significant contributions to humanity. Over the years, the prize has earned a reputation as a “Nobel predictor,” with more than 30% of recipients subsequently winning the Nobel Prize.
The prizes will be presented to the three laureates in June 2025 at a ceremony during the Technion Board of Governors meeting, marking the centenary of the Technion’s opening.