Phillip A Sharp

Phillip A. Sharp: A Pioneer in Cancer Research and CRISPR-Cas Systems

Phillip A. Sharp is an acclaimed biochemist and geneticist known for his contribution to cancer research and RNA interference technology. Born in Falmouth, Kentucky, Sharp completed his Ph.D. at the University of Illinois in 1969, followed by postdoctoral training at the California Institute of Technology.

Sharp started his academic career at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 1974, where he founded the Department of Biology's Center for Cancer Research. He later served as the director of the McGovern Institute for Brain Research at MIT. Presently, he is an Institute Professor at MIT and a member of the Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research.

Sharp has published over 350 scientific papers and holds 18 patents. In recent years, his research focused on the CRISPR-Cas system, a revolutionary gene-editing tool. He has applied this system to create a platform for modeling cancer mutations in vivo. The invention allows the introduction of multiple mutations, over 50, in transgenic Cas9 eukaryotes to simulate genetic diseases, such as cancer, and test putative treatments. This breakthrough may lead to improved understanding, diagnosis, and treatment of cancers with complex genetic origins.

Sharp's work with RNA interference (RNAi) earned him a Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1993. Together with his coworkers, Phillip D. Zamore and David Bartel, Sharp discovered the existence of RNA sequence-specific mediators of RNAi. This research showed the mechanism by which RNA molecules direct gene silencing. RNAi has since been widely used as a tool for loss-of-function genetic studies and drug target validation.

Sharp has held many leadership positions in the scientific community, including President of the American Association for Cancer Research. He is currently a member of the Board of Directors of the Broad Institute, a collaborative biomedical research center at MIT, Harvard, and the affiliated hospitals, and a member of the Board of Scientific Governors of the Scripps Research Institute.

Sharp's contributions to cancer research and RNAi technology have advanced our understanding of gene regulation and provided potential targets for therapeutic intervention. With his latest patented invention of the CRISPR-Cas system, Sharp's impact on biomedical research and the fight against cancer will continue to benefit humanity for years to come.