Search Results - Joan Steitz

Joan A. Steitz

Joan Elaine Argetsinger Steitz (born January 26, 1941) is an American biochemist and molecular biologist, Sterling Professor of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, the Director of the Molecular Genetics Program at the Boyer Center for Molecular Medicine at Yale University and Investigator at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. She is known for her discoveries involving RNA and how it works in cells including ground-breaking insights into how ribosomes interact with messenger RNA by complementary base pairing and that introns are spliced by small nuclear ribonucleic proteins (snRNPs), which occur in eukaryotes. Her career spans several decades, and her contributions to science have earned a prominent place in the history of molecular biology. Her research has significantly advanced understanding of RNA biology, molecular genetics and cellular processes. Upon her extensive experience in RNA biology, her research laid the groundwork for the development of the recent Covid-19 mRNA vaccines.

In September 2018, Steitz was honored with the Lasker-Koshland Award for Special Achievement in Medical Science. The Lasker award is often referred to as the 'American Nobel' because 87 of the former recipients have gone on to win Nobel prizes. Provided by Wikipedia