Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, April 23 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — During the 46th session of King Faisal Prize on April 22, exceptional accomplishments in the fields of gene therapy for neuromuscular diseases and groundbreaking RNA discoveries were acknowledged. Professor Jerry Mendell was awarded the Medicine Prize for his groundbreaking contributions to the screening, early diagnosis, and treatment of neuromuscular disorders, notably spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) and Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Professor Howard Chang received the Science Prize for unveiling the intrinsic role of long non-coding RNAs in gene regulation and function, a previously overlooked area of study.
Through innovative gene therapy approaches, Professor Mendell, the Director of Gene Therapy Center at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and Curran Peters Chair in Pediatric Research, has revolutionized treatment strategies, offering hope to countless patients worldwide.