Dr. Feng Zhang stands as a visionary leader in molecular biology whose groundbreaking work has transformed genetic research and neuroscience. Currently serving as the James and Patricia Poitras Professor of Neuroscience at MIT, he also holds appointments as an investigator at the McGovern Institute for Brain Research, a professor in the MIT Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences and Department of Biological Engineering, and a core institute member of the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard. Born in China in 1981 and raised in Iowa from age eleven, he earned his BA in chemistry and physics from Harvard University before receiving his PhD in chemistry from Stanford University in 2009 under Karl Deisseroth. During his doctoral studies, he played a central role in developing optogenetics, a revolutionary technique for controlling neurons with light, and subsequently served as an independent Junior Fellow in the Harvard Society of Fellows from 2009 to 2010.
Dr. Zhang's pioneering work revolutionized the field of genome editing through his development of CRISPR-Cas9 technology, providing researchers with an unprecedented tool for precisely modifying DNA sequences. His seminal 2013 research established the foundation for CRISPR-based medicines and demonstrated its application in human cells, enabling scientists to change, delete, and replace any genes with remarkable efficiency. Building upon this breakthrough, he discovered and developed additional CRISPR-Cas12 and Cas13 systems, expanding the genome editing toolkit for therapeutic and diagnostic applications. His innovative diagnostic platform SHERLOCK, leveraging CRISPR technology, has been deployed to monitor infectious diseases including the coronavirus outbreak, demonstrating the versatile impact of his molecular tools.
As a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator and member of both the National Academy of Sciences and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, Dr. Zhang continues to shape the future of molecular biology through his leadership and generosity in sharing research tools. He has received numerous accolades including the Canada Gairdner International Award, Tang Prize, and National Medal of Technology and Innovation in 2024 for his work in developing molecular tools, especially CRISPR genome-editing technologies, which have advanced biomedical science and enabled new treatments for genetic disorders and diseases. Dr. Zhang applies his CRISPR expertise to pluripotent stem cells to model complex neurological and psychiatric disorders, developing novel therapeutic strategies for previously intractable conditions. His laboratory remains dedicated to engineering the next generation of molecular tools that modify cellular function to restore diseased, stressed, or aged cells to a more healthful state, with particular focus on neurodegenerative diseases, immune disorders, and aging.
