Posts in category: King Faisal Prize

The Landmark 48th Session of the Prize Comes as the King Faisal Foundation Marks 50 Years of Impact

Riyadh, April 15, 2026

Held under the patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz, and attended by HRH Prince Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Governor of the Riyadh Region, HRH Prince Turki Alfaisal, Acting Chairman of the Board of Trustees of King Faisal Foundation, and King Faisal Prize Secretary General Dr. Abdulaziz Alsebail took the stage on the evening of April 15 to honor the laureates of the King Faisal Prize’s 48th session — a celebration of minds whose work echoed far beyond the walls of their laboratories and lecture halls. The ceremony this year is coinciding with a landmark milestone: the 50th anniversary of the King Faisal Foundation, established in 1976 and launching its Prize in 1979.

Service to Islam Prize: Where Entrepreneurship, Philanthropy, and Scholarship Converge

The Service to Islam Prize was jointly awarded to Sheikh Abdullatif bin Ahmed Alfozan and Professor Mohamed Mohamed Aboumousa.

Sheikh Abdullatif Alfozan, one of Saudi Arabia’s most prominent figures in business and social development, was recognized for his pioneering contributions to institutional philanthropy. His journey began with the founding of Abdullatif and Mohammed Alfozan Company with his brother, which later expanded into more than 40 companies across various sectors.

He also launched and supported numerous impactful initiatives serving Muslim communities, including the establishment of Islamic centers, mosques, and educational projects, as well as programs aimed at strengthening the nonprofit sector. Among his notable contributions are the “Ajwad Endowment” and Alfozan Community Service Program, which has benefited over one million people.

His work extended to education, healthcare, and urban development through initiatives such as Al Fozan Academy, Afaq Autism Center, and the Abdullatif Alfozan Global Award for Mosque Architecture, in addition to housing and environmental projects. His humanitarian efforts also reached beyond Saudi Arabia through mosque construction, well-digging, education support, and relief initiatives. Sheikh Abdullatif Alfozan has been widely recognized at the Arab and international levels, receiving an honorary award from The World Peace and Prosperity Foundation at the British Parliament in 2017, and being selected among the most influential Arab figures in social responsibility in 2020.  In his speech, he stated: “Commercial establishments are a means, not an end, and a path to serving Islam, building homelands, and ensuring human prosperity. True loyalty requires that giving become a deeply rooted principle and a constant endeavor through which we seek divine reward and strive to leave a meaningful impact.”

Professor Mohamed Aboumousa, a founding member of the Council of Senior Scholars at Al-Azhar since 2012, was honored for his extensive scholarly contributions to Arabic language and rhetoric, particularly in exploring the rhetorical inimitability of the Qur’an and Prophetic traditions. He has authored more than 30 books on rhetoric, literary analysis, and heritage studies, many of which have become essential references for researchers. His academic career includes teaching, supervising, and mentoring generations of students, alongside active participation in international conferences and hundreds of scholarly sessions at Al-Azhar Mosque.

Professor Aboumousa has held a scholarly teaching circle at Al-Azhar since 2014, in which he teaches the two most important books in Arabic rhetoric, Secrets of Eloquence and Proofs of Inimitability by Imam Abd Al-Qahir Al-Jurjani. The number of these circles has reached nearly 300. In recognition of his scholarly work, 15 theses and academic studies have been written to examine his intellectual contributions. A commemorative volume was published containing 20 articles and thematic studies about his work. A section of his biography was included in Arabic rhetoric textbooks for secondary level schools. He was selected among the top 10 figures in the Arab and Islamic world in terms of scholarly contribution to be honored in the inaugural session of the Doha Arab Book Award in 2024. In his speech, he said: “All deeds are alike in form; what truly counts is the quality of excellence. Allah has honored you by making you among the finest leaders of the finest ummah brought forth for humankind, and He has granted you a clear understanding of what produces such a community that is knowledge, excellence, mastery of one’s work, full dedication to it, and love for caring for its people.”

Islamic Studies Prize: “Trade Routes in the Islamic World” Between the Depth of History and the Precision of Fieldwork

The Islamic Studies Prize, dedicated this year to “Trade Routes in the Islamic World,” was awarded to Professors Abdelhamid Hussein Hammouda and Moh’d Wahib Hussein.

Professor Abdelhamid Hussein Hammouda was recognized for his comprehensive and analytically rigorous scholarship on overland and maritime trade routes across the Islamic world, offering a cohesive historical understanding that serves as a key reference for both specialized research and broader knowledge.

He completed his Ph.D. in Islamic history at the Faculty of Arts, Minia University. He held several administrative positions within the university, including Head of the History Department in both the Faculties of Education and Arts from 2003 until 2006, Vice Dean of the Faculty of Arts for Post-Graduate Studies and Research in 2009, and Dean of the Faculty of Arts from 2011 until 2018. He also supervised the Departments of English, Chinese, Libraries, and Information Systems. Professor Hammouda authored several encyclopedias, including The Encyclopedia of the History of Islamic States in the East, in ten volumes; The Encyclopedia of the Early Islamic Period and Its Civilization, in six volumes; and The Encyclopedia of Trade Routes in the Islamic World, in five volumes. There is a fourth encyclopedia that is currently in press. He also authored around sixteen books on various fields of Islamic history and Islamic civilization that were all published in Cairo. In his speech he said, “One of the significant topics addressed by the prize in the field of Islamic Studies in its forty-eighth session is Trade Routes in the Islamic World. These routes have always represented the lifelines connecting people and nations throughout history. Along these routes caravans of merchants traveled eastward, westward, northward, and southward, laden with goods of every kind. Commercial exchange flourished along these routes, and they became conduits through which ideas, beliefs, and cultures were transmitted. They became the arteries linking civilizations.”

Professor Mohammad Wahib Hussein was awarded also the Prize in recognition of his distinguished field research documenting historical trade routes across the Arabian Peninsula, particularly the Meccan Ilaf route. His work combines archaeological surveys, advanced geographic documentation, and analytical mapping, offering a balanced and original contribution to the study of early trade networks.

Holding a PhD from Hacettepe University, he has led major excavation and survey projects and founded a Cultural Resources Management program to advance heritage preservation in the Arab world. His research spans archaeometallurgy and heritage studies, including the discovery of early copper production centers and the UNESCO-listed Baptism Site on the eastern bank of the Jordan River. With over 100 peer-reviewed articles, 56 books, and more than 40 major discoveries, his work has significantly enriched the field. He has received numerous regional and international awards in recognition of his contributions. He said in his acceptance speech, “.I close with the inspiring words of His Royal Highness Prince Khalid Al-Faisal, may Allah protect him: “The glory of individuals does not come from status, lineage, or ancestry; it is born of their great deeds that serve their faith, their nation, their country, and all humanity.””

Arabic Language and Literature Prize: Bridging Cultures Through Translation

In the field of Arabic Language and Literature, dedicated this year to “Arabic Literature in French,” the Prize was awarded to Professor Pierre Larcher, Emeritus Professor of Arabic Linguistics at Aix-Marseille University and Emeritus Researcher at the Institute for Studies and Research on the Arab and Muslim Worlds in Aix.

In 1980, he defended a 3rd cycle thesis in Arabic linguistics, and in 1996, a state thesis in letters and humanities. He taught and conducted research across Syria, Libya, and Morocco before joining several French universities, where he served until becoming Emeritus Professor at Aix-Marseille University. His work bridges Arabic and Semitic linguistics with the analysis and translation of pre-Islamic Arabic poetry. Widely recognized for its innovation, his research covers language history, syntax, pragmatics, and sociolinguistics, while his acclaimed French translation of the Mu‘allaqāt stands as a landmark contribution to cross-cultural literary exchange. With over 350 scholarly publications, he has played a key role in advancing Arabic studies globally and has been widely honored for his contributions to both linguistics and translation. He was recognized for his outstanding contributions to presenting Arabic literature to French audiences with both creativity and academic rigor. His translations of pre-Islamic poetry, particularly the Mu‘allaqat, have been widely acclaimed and serve as a bridge between Arab and French cultures. In his speech, he said, “Winning such an international prize is a tribute to half a century of continuous academic work in the fields of Arabic linguistics and the translation of Arabic literature, particularly pre-Islamic Arabic poetry; two disciplines closely intertwined. Pre-Islamic poetry occupies in the Arab civilization a place comparable to that of Homer’s works in the Greek civilization.”

King Faisal Prize 2026 Honors Svetlana Mojsov, one of the Scientists behind Ozempic, and Mathematician Carlos Kenig, who Decoded Laws of Motion

The Medicine Prize, focused on “Discoveries Transforming Obesity Therapeutics”, was awarded to Professor Svetlana Mojsov, Research Associate Professor at Rockefeller University.

She was recognized for her pioneering discovery of the GLP-1 hormone and its role in regulating insulin secretion, which led to the development of a new generation of treatments for diabetes and obesity, significantly improving millions of lives worldwide. In 1983, she made a critical breakthrough by identifying the biologically active form of GLP-1 and demonstrating its role in stimulating insulin secretion, establishing its therapeutic potential. Her work laid the scientific foundation for a new class of treatments for metabolic diseases. Her contributions have earned global recognition, including the Lasker Award, Breakthrough Prize, and Princess of Asturias Award, among others. In her speech, she said, “Twenty-five years after we published our findings Novo Nordisk Pharmaceutical Company developed long lasting injectable GLP-1 analogs for diabetes and obesity. I am humbled that my work that started 40 years ago with a hypothesis has benefited the health and lives of millions of people worldwide.”

The Science Prize in Mathematics was awarded to Professor Carlos Kenig, Louis Block Distinguished Service Professor at the University of Chicago, was awarded the King Faisal Prize in Mathematics for his pioneering contributions to nonlinear partial differential equations. By applying advanced harmonic analysis, his work has transformed the understanding of complex physical phenomena, with applications spanning fluid mechanics, optical fibers, and medical imaging. His research on wave behavior and free boundary problems has provided fundamental insights into the stability and evolution of systems, resolving long-standing mathematical challenges and shaping modern analysis.

A globally recognized leader in his field, he has received prestigious honors including the Salem Prize, Bôcher Prize, and Solomon Lefschetz Medal, and has been invited to speak at the International Congress of Mathematicians three times. In his acceptance speech, he stated, “I became interested in mathematics at the age of 12, when in my first year of high school in my native country Argentina, our math teacher taught us Euclidean geometry, and how to prove rigorously theorems about triangles. I was hooked from that time on! I then had the very good fortune to study at the University of Chicago, and to be a postdoc at Princeton University, under some of the most outstanding mathematicians of the 20^th century. These experiences influenced the direction of my research, which turned to topics in mathematical analysis, and eventually mostly to the study of the partial differential equations that govern our physical world.”

The King Faisal Prize 2026 ceremony is a historical milestone. The King Faisal Foundation turned 50, marking half a century of championing human excellence. Established by the Foundation in 1977 and first awarded in 1979, the King Faisal Prize has since honored 308 laureates from 45 countries in recognition of their outstanding contributions across various fields of science and humanitarian causes. Each laureate from the prize’s 5 categories is endowed with USD 200 thousand; a 24-carat gold medal weighing 200 grams; and a Certificate inscribed with the Laureate’s name and a summary of their work which qualified them for the prize.

January 7, 2026

Professor Svetlana Mojsov was announced this year’s King Faisal Prize in Medicine laureate for her groundbreaking discoveries that are reshaping how we treat obesity, and Professor Carlos Kenig was announced this year’s King Faisal Prize in Science laureate in the field of Mathematics for revolutionizing our understanding of nonlinear partial differential equations. Other laureates’ names were announced to win King Faisal Prize in 2026 for enriching humanity with invaluable achievements and discoveries, and for excelling in the fields of Arabic Language and Literature, Islamic Studies, and Serving Islam.

Professor Mojsov, the Lulu Chow Wang and Robin Chemers Neustein Research Associate Professor at the Rockefeller University in New York, pioneered research on glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) that has fundamentally transformed how we treat obesity and diabetes. She discovered and characterized the biologically active form of GLP-1; a natural intestinal hormone that regulates blood sugar and appetite, and identified its receptors in the human pancreas, heart, and brain. Through cutting-edge peptide biochemistry and physiological studies, Professor Mojsov demonstrated that GLP-1 powerfully stimulates insulin secretion while reducing hunger and managing glucose levels.

Her groundbreaking work enabled the development of an entirely new class of medications that mimic this natural hormone, sparking a paradigm shift in obesity treatment. Today, these therapies provide life-changing benefits for hundreds of millions of people worldwide living with obesity and its complications—a global health crisis affecting 890 million adults and 160 million children and adolescents in 2022 alone according to World Health Organization.

Professor Mojsov is listed as co-inventor on patents for the use of GLP-1 that were licensed to the pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk, which led to the development of breakthrough medications. The medications based on Professor Mojsov’s foundational work have transformed patient care worldwide. Her work has led to the development of a class of medications marketed under trade names including Victoza, Ozempic, and Rybelsus for diabetes treatment and weight loss. These drugs work by copying what the natural hormone does in the body: they help release insulin when blood sugar is high, slow down digestion, and reduce appetite by affecting the brain’s hunger centers. The first drug to reach market, Victoza, was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2010 and was based directly on the GLP-1 sequence that Professor Mojsov discovered. Professor Mojsov’s contributions demonstrate how basic scientific research can lead to life-changing therapies that address one of the world’s most pressing health challenges.

Her groundbreaking contributions have earned numerous prestigious honors, including the Lasker Award, Tang Prize, Breakthrough Prize, VinFuture Prize, and Princess of Asturias Prize, among others. Time magazine also named her one of the 100 Most Influential People in 2024.

This year’s King Faisal Prize in Science “Mathematics” honors Professor Carlos Kenig for his groundbreaking contributions to mathematical analysis. His work has transformed our understanding of nonlinear partial differential equations—the mathematical equations describing how things change and move in the physical world—and provided researchers with a now-ubiquitous set of techniques. His insights have opened new research frontiers with applications spanning fluid mechanics, optical fibers, and medical imaging.

Professor Carlos Kenig, Louis Block Distinguished Service Professor at the University of Chicago, is recognized for applying harmonic analysis techniques across different areas of partial differential equations. His work on free boundary problems—determining unknown boundaries such as where ice meets melting water or how fluids flow through soil—has been particularly influential.

Professor Kenig has spent three decades figuring out how complex waves behave over long periods of time, especially in tricky situations where they could either spread out peacefully or build up dangerously. This matters for understanding everything from ocean waves to light pulses in fiber optics to how energy moves through different materials. His work helps explain phenomena in quantum mechanics, optics, and ocean waves. By combining different mathematical techniques, he has solved longstanding problems that had puzzled mathematicians for decades. His research examines how solutions to these equations evolve over time, when they remain stable, and when they might break down or form singularities.

Another important area of Professor Kenig’s work involves understanding how mathematical solutions behave near edges or boundaries. He has also contributed to unique continuation properties, which explore how much information about a solution you need in order to determine the entire solution. These mathematical insights have practical applications in medical imaging and other inverse problems where you try to determine internal structures from external measurements.

Professor Kenig’s distinguished career includes the Salem Prize (1984), the Bôcher Prize of the American Mathematical Society (2008), the Solomon Lefschetz Medal from the Mathematical Council of the Americas (2021), and the ICMAM Latin America Prize (2024). He was an invited speaker at the International Congress of Mathematicians in 1984 and 2002, a plenary speaker in 2010, and delivered the American Mathematical Society’s colloquium lectures in 2017.

In addition to Medicine and Science, King Faisal Prize recognized this year the achievements of outstanding thinkers and scholars in the field of Arabic Language and Literature, Islamic Studies, and exemplary leaders who played a pivotal role in serving Islam, Muslims, and humanity at large.

Professor Pierre Larcher, Emeritus Professor of Arabic Linguistics at Aix-Marseille University and Emeritus Researcher at the Institute for Studies and Research on the Arab and Muslim Worlds, won this year’s King Faisal Prize for Arabic Language & Literature on “Arabic Literature in French”. His novel presentation of Arabic literature to French readers has earned widespread acclaim from critics and specialists, while his rigorous scholarly approach to classical Arabic literature has made it accessible and appropriate for French culture. His critical translation project of al-Mu’allaqat and rigorous study of pre-Islamic poetry demonstrate exceptional scholarly depth.

For this year’s Islamic Studies Prize on “Islamic Trade Routes”, Professor Abdelhamid Hussein Mahmoud Hammouda, Professor of Islamic History and Civilization at the Fayoum University, and Professor Dr. Mohamed Waheeb Hussein, Professor of Archaeology and History of Art at the Hashemite University, were announced as co-laureates.

Professor Abdelhamid Hussein Mahmoud Hammouda’s comprehensive work encompasses trade routes across the Islamic world—the Mashreq, Iraq and Persia, Arabian Peninsula, Greater Syria, Egypt, Sahara, Maghreb, and al-Andalus. This expansive scope delivers coherent understanding of Islamic trade trajectories across history, serving as an authoritative reference for both specialized research and broader scholarship.

Professor Dr. Mohamed Waheeb Hussein’s groundbreaking work uses archaeological surveys, GPS documentation, and analytical mapping to systematically correlate Qur’anic texts with geographical data. His research offers definitive scholarly interpretation of the Route of al-Īlāf, significantly advancing documentation of early Arabian Peninsula trade routes.

As for the Service to Islam Prize, Sheikh Abdullatif Al Fozan and Professor Dr. Mohammad Abou Moussa were announced as co-laureates for this year.

King Faisal Prize laureates’ names for 2026 were announced today in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, by HRH Prince Turki Alfaisal and the Prize’s Secretary General Dr. Abdulaziz Alsebail. Since 1979, King Faisal Prize in its 5 different categories has awarded laureates who have made distinguished contributions to different sciences and causes. Each prize laureate is endowed with USD 200 thousand; a 24-carat gold medal weighing 200 grams, and a Certificate inscribed with the Laureate’s name and a summary of their work which qualified them for the prize.

• Riyadh, KSA, January 7, 2026:  

   

  A prize selection committee for King Faisal Prize for Service to Islam, headed by His Royal Highness Prince Turki Al-Faisal, met today to select the 2026 King Faisal Prize laureate in the Service to Islam category: one of the Prize’s five categories.  

   

  The Service to Islam prize reflects the primary objectives of the King Faisal Prize to ingrain Islamic values and ideas in the society and highlight their key role in enriching knowledge and human development. It aims to benefit Muslims in their present and future through awarding and acknowledging the distinguished efforts of individuals and institutions that have excelled in serving Islam and Muslims. To qualify for the prize, an individual or an institution should have rendered exceptional services to Islam and Muslims through knowledge and deeds or provided other outstanding services that offer far-reaching benefits to Islam and Muslims.  

   

  Later this evening, HRH Prince Turki Al-Faisal will announce the names of the 2026 King Faisal prize laureates in all five categories, during a ceremony held at Prince Sultan Grand Hall in Al-Faisaliah Center in Riyadh attended by scholars, intellectuals, and journalists. The event will be streamed live at 8:00 pm (KSA time) through King Faisal Prize’s website and social media platforms.  

   

  57 laureates from 24 different countries have previously received the Service to Islam prize during the past 47 years. The list of Service to Islam Laureates has comprised rulers, heads of states, thought leaders and social scientists as well as distinguished institutions. 

   

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  About King Faisal Prize: 

   

  The King Faisal Prize (KFP) was established by the King Faisal Foundation in 1977 and was granted for the first time in 1979. The Prize recognizes the outstanding works of individuals and institutions in five categories: Service to Islam, Islamic Studies, Arabic Language and Literature, Medicine, and Science. Its aim is to benefit Muslims in their present and future, inspire them to participate in all aspects of civilization, and enrich human knowledge and development. Laureates are selected based on their scientific competence and research excellence taking into consideration precise scientific criteria overseen by several specialized committees, which undertake the responsibility of examining nominations, evaluating the scientific output of nominees, and then selecting the laureates. 

• Selection Committees started their meetings at King Faisal Prize headquarters to select laureates in Islamic Studies,
  Arabic Language & Literature, Medicine, and Science 

• HRH Prince Turki Al-Faisal to chair committee meeting to select the laureate in Service to Islam  

• Laureates Names to Be Announced on January 7 

Riyadh, KSA, January 5, 2026:  

King Faisal Prize will be announcing the names of its 2026 laureates on the 7th of January in Riyadh. In preparation for the announcement, specialized selection committees of the prize’s 4 categories – Islamic Studies, Arabic Language & Literature, Medicine, and Science started their meetings at the Prize’s headquarters today, 5 January 2026 and will continue until the 7th. On the 7th of January, His Royal Highness Prince Turki Al-Faisal Bin Abd Al-Aziz will chair the committee meeting to select the laureate of the Service to Islam prize. 

The General Secretariat had announced the topics of the 48th session of King Faisal Prize for 2026, as follows:  

• Islamic Studies: “Trade Routes in the Islamic World”.  

• Arabic Language & Literature: “Arabic Literature in French”.  

• Medicine: “Discoveries Transforming Obesity Therapeutics”.  

• Science: “Mathematics”. 

As for the King Faisal Prize for Service to Islam, it is considered an honorary award granted to those who have contributed a pioneering role in serving Islam and Muslims intellectually, scientifically, or socially through works, activities, programs, and projects that have had a tangible impact on society. 

The General Secretariat also pointed out that nominations are made by scientific institutions, universities, research centres as well as scientific and language councils, provided the nominated individual is alive and their nominated work is already published. The work should also be informative and contribute to the enrichment of knowledge for the development of humanity. 

The Prize selection committees this year include experts, specialists, and scholars, coming from different countries to meet in Riyadh and examine the nominated works to select the laureates in an objective and transparent manner, in accordance with the rules and regulations developed by the General Secretariat of the Prize. 

Members of the selection committee for the Service to Islam Prize, chaired by His Royal Highness Prince Turki Al-Faisal Bin Abd Al-Aziz are leading scholars in Islamic law and jurisprudence. 

HRH Prince Turki Al-Faisal will announce the names of the chosen prize laureates for 2026 in the five different categories on Wednesday January 7 at Prince Sultan Grand Hall in Al-Faisaliah Center, Riyadh.  

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About King Faisal Prize: 

The King Faisal Prize (KFP) was established by the King Faisal Foundation in 1977 and was granted for the first time in 1979. The Prize recognizes the outstanding works of individuals and institutions in five categories: Service to Islam, Islamic Studies, Arabic Language and Literature, Medicine, and Science. Its aim is to benefit Muslims in their present and future, inspire them to participate in all aspects of civilization, and enrich human knowledge and development. Laureates are selected based on their scientific competence and research excellence taking into consideration precise scientific criteria overseen by several specialized committees, which undertake the responsibility of examining nominations, evaluating the scientific output of nominees, and then selecting the laureates. 

During its 46th session, King Faisal Prize Recognized Other Outstanding Figures in the Fields of Islamic Studies, and Service to Islam

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – April 22, 2024

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.

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), once considered a leading genetic cause of infant mortality, has seen a paradigm shift in treatment due to Professor Mendell’s pioneering efforts. By utilizing gene therapy to deliver crucial genes to affected cells, he has significantly improved outcomes for patients, leading in 2019 to the first-ever FDA-approved gene therapy treatment for pediatric SMA patients (Zolgensma®).

In addition to his work in SMA, Professor Mendell’s research has extended to Duchenne muscular dystrophy and limb-girdle muscular dystrophy, showcasing the versatility and efficacy of gene therapy in addressing a spectrum of neuromuscular conditions. Genetic mutations in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) patients hinder the production of dystrophin, a crucial protein for muscle health. While initial symptoms primarily affect skeletal muscles, DMD progresses to impact cardiac and respiratory functions. Gene therapy offers a solution by addressing this genetic anomaly, allowing the body to produce dystrophin and halt muscle degeneration. In June 2023, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the first treatment for pediatric DMD patients aged 4-5, utilizing a pioneering gene therapy co-developed by Professor Mendell and Professor Louise Rodino-Klapac, a former post-doctoral researcher in Mendell’s lab. This therapy involves a single injection, delivering a micro-dystrophin gene within an adeno-associated virus serotype (AAVrh74), facilitating the transfer of missing or corrected genes to cells.

He has played a significant role in clinical trials targeting different forms of Limb-Girdle Muscular Dystrophy (LGMD), characterized by muscle weakness affecting the shoulders, upper arms, hips, and upper legs. One study particularly concentrated on LGMD2B, demonstrating that a single injection of a gene therapy vector effectively restored damaged muscle fibers, mitigating degeneration, and improving muscle function.

Professor Mendell boasts a portfolio of more than 400 published papers, a testament to his prolific contributions to the field. In acknowledgment of his achievements, he was honored with election to the National Academy of Medicine in 2021. The American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy bestowed upon him the prestigious Translational Science Award named in his honor. Furthermore, in 2017, Science Magazine recognized his groundbreaking work in SMA Gene Therapy with the esteemed Breakthrough Achievement Award. His accolades also include numerous other awards and invitations to deliver honorary lectures at esteemed institutions.

In his acceptance speech during the ceremony, Professor Mendell said, “The principles of the award that reflect King Faisal’s intent to relieve human suffering are consistent with my own views and lifetime achievements. I have done everything I could do to improve the quality and prolong life for patients afflicted with neuromuscular diseases.”

On the frontier of molecular biology, Professor Howard Chang, a physician-scientist and Professor of Dermatology and Genetics, and Virginia and D.K. Ludwig Professor of Cancer Research at Stanford University, has been awarded King Faisal Prize for Science in Biology. Professor Chang’s elucidation of the role of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in gene regulation has revolutionized our understanding of cellular processes and disease mechanisms.

Through innovative genome-wide methodologies, Professor Chang has uncovered the intricate interplay between lncRNAs and gene expression, shedding light on fundamental biological processes underlying development, cancer, and aging. Despite not encoding proteins, lncRNAs are crucial for controlling the timing and amount of protein production, impacting the overall function and behavior of cells.

Within each human cell, a remarkable feat of organization unfolds: 2 meters of DNA are tightly packed into a nucleus merely 10 microns in size. This dense packaging renders most of the DNA inaccessible, except for the active DNA elements crucial to the cell’s functioning and reading. Identifying these accessible elements unveils invaluable insights into the cellular “software.” His groundbreaking techniques lie in mapping chromatin—the substance constituting chromosomes, comprised of DNA and associated proteins governing genome structure and gene expression. This has provided unprecedented insights into the regulatory mechanisms governing gene expression, paving the way for novel therapeutic interventions and precision medicine approaches. One technique is the Assay of Transposase Accessible Chromatin, employing the Tn5 transposase enzyme to efficiently copy and paste DNA. This revolutionary technique has yielded a million-fold enhancement in sensitivity and a hundred-fold improvement in mapping speed for regulatory DNA—the epigenome—in human cells.

As the founder of the RNA Medicine Program at Stanford University, Professor Chang continues to spearhead efforts to translate RNA science into tangible clinical applications, furthering the promise of RNA-based therapeutics in treating a wide range of diseases. Prof. Chang’s honors include the NAS Award for Molecular Biology, Outstanding Investigator Award of the National Cancer Institute, Paul Marks Prize for Cancer Research, Judson Daland Prize of the American Philosophical Society, and the Vilcek Prize for Creative Promise. His work was honored by the journal Cell as a Landmark paper over the last 40 years and by Science as “Insight of the decade”.

In his acceptance speech during the ceremony, Professor Chang said, “Our research asked a basic question: how do cells decide when and where to switch different genes on? How do these decisions get passed over time? Our studies led us to a new class of RNAs, called long noncoding RNAs, that help cells remember their cell fates. Our understanding of the gene switches led to an understanding of how inherited genetic differences cause disease, especially immune diseases. This understanding also helped to tackle mutations that arise in cancer.”

In addition to honoring advancements in medicine and science, King Faisal Prize also recognized exemplary contributions in Islamic Studies and Service to Islam.   Professor Wael Hallaq, among the top 500 scholars in Islamic Studies globally, was awarded the Islamic Studies prize for his groundbreaking contributions in guiding the development of Islamic legislation and challenging the narrative of closing of the gate of ijtihad – interpreting Islamic texts – gained prominence, reshaping accepted paradigms in the field.

The Japan Muslim Association and Mr. Mohammad El Sammak were honored for their exemplary leadership in serving Islam and humanity. The Japan Muslim Association is a pioneering Islamic organization for Japanese Muslims, renowned for its historic translation of the Holy Quran into Japanese, and its defense of Muslims’ affairs in Japan. And, Mr. Mohammad El Sammak, a pioneer in dialogue and bridge-building between different faiths, has made a lasting impact in interfaith dialogue over five decades. He was awarded for his effective contributions to conferences exploring Islam’s relationship with other beliefs and his leadership in institutions dedicated to tolerance and peace.

King Faisal Prize for Arabic Language & Literature for 2024 on the topic of “Non-Arab Institutions and their Endeavors to Promote Arabic” was withheld due to nominated works not elevating to the criteria of the prize.

Since 1979, King Faisal Prize in its 5 different categories has awarded 295 laureates who have made distinguished contributions to different sciences and causes. Each prize laureate is endowed with USD 200 thousand; a 24-carat gold medal weighing 200 grams, and a Certificate inscribed with the Laureate’s name and a summary of their work which qualified them for the prize.

Under the auspices of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz and in the presence of His Royal Highness Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz, Governor of Riyadh region, King Faisal Prize honored today its laureates for this year 2024.

King Faisal Prize for Service to Islam this year was distinguished by the honoring of the first Islamic organization for Muslims in Japan, “Japan Muslim Association” in appreciation of its diligent efforts in serving Islam and Muslims and in promoting understanding and tolerance in Japanese society. The Association was founded in 1952 under the name of “Society of Muslim Friends” and worked to serve and attend for Muslims in Japan, defend their interests, and pay special attention to educating Muslim youth to enable them to understand their religion and culture. In 1957, the
Association launched the scholarship program sending students to Islamic countries for education and academic achievement. In 1961, it established the “Muslim Students in Japan Association”. To defy the misconceptions about Islam, the Association published books and publications explaining the true Islamic values and principles and issued the “Voice of Islam” bulletin in 1959. In 1963, the Association established the “Association of Islamic Studies in Japan.” The efforts of the Association were not limited to Japan alone, but also included organizing Hajj and Umrah for Japanese Muslims. The president of the ” Japan Muslim Association,” Yahya Toshio Endo, said in his speech during the ceremony: “Throughout the history of the association, many achievements have been made, thank Allah, most notably the project of the first translation of the Holy Quran into Japanese language by Muslims. It was translated by the second president of the Association, Omar Meta – May his soul rest in peace – and published in 1972. A number of books of Quranic interpretation, hadiths, and the biography of the Prophet were also translated in addition to writing, translating, and distributing many introductory materials about Islam.”

King Faisal Prize for Service to Islam was also awarded to the prominent intellectual Mr. Mohammed El Sammak, a pioneer in dialogue and bridge-building between different faiths, who has made a lasting impact in interfaith dialogue over five decades. He is awarded for his effective contributions to conferences exploring Islam’s relationship with other beliefs and his leadership in institutions dedicated to tolerance and peace. Mr. El Sammak’s efforts in promoting Islamic-Christian dialogue resulted in direct meetings between the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar and His Holiness the Pope of the Catholic Church in the Vatican, as well as between His Excellency the President and Secretary-General of the Muslim World League in Makkah and the Pope of the Vatican and the dignitaries of the Catholic Church in Rome. These meetings produced documents, the most prominent of which was the “Human Fraternity” document issued in Abu Dhabi in 2019. Mr. El Sammak studied political science, media, and Islamic thought, and obtained an honorary doctorate in humanities from the Lebanese American University. He currently holds the position of Secretary-General of the National Committee for Christian-Muslim Dialogue in Lebanon, as well as the position of Secretary-General of the Permanent Secretariat of the Islamic Spiritual Summit in Lebanon. He also served as an advisor to the late Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.

Mr. Mohammed El Sammak has other contributions as a political thinker and writer in prominent Arab newspapers such as (Al-Ahram – Cairo) and (Al-Ittihad – Abu Dhabi), and has several works on Islam, politics, and Islamic-Christian dialogue, including: “Introduction to the Islamic-Christian Dialogue,” “The Position of Islam in the Clash of Civilizations,” and “Muslims and Contemporary Challenges.” He received many awards and honors, including the “The Fondazione Ducci” Peace Award in Italy, the Italian Order of Merit of the Republic Officer’s rank, and the King Hussein Award for Distinguished Giving of the First Class, among others. In his speech during the ceremony, Mr.  Mohammed El Sammak said: “Islam champions the dignity of man in view of his human nature. Islam also recognizes existing differences among people… Thanks to His wisdom, Allah wants to make people different, but He calls upon us to seek to know each other. In this sense, dialogue is both the path and the instrument.” He also mentioned Pope John Paul II’s respect for his religious beliefs during the Synod on Lebanon in 1993, where the meeting coincided with Friday prayers, so Mr. El Sammak apologized for attending. He quoted the Pope as saying during the conference, “We hope Mohammed El Sammak, our guest and partner in the dialogue, will pray for the success of this Synod.” El Sammak added that when the Pope invited him to his personal table with a small group of cardinals, he insisted that only water and orange juice be served, out of respect for his Islamic faith.

In the field of Islamic Studies, which focused this year on “Islamic Legislations and their Contemporary Applications” the prize was awarded to Professor Wael Hallaq; the Avalon Foundation Professor in the Humanities at Columbia University since 2009, teaching ethics, law, and political thought. Professor Wael Hallaq, among the top 500 scholars in Islamic Studies globally, was awarded the Islamic Studies prize for his groundbreaking contributions in guiding the development of Islamic legislation. His doctoral work challenging the narrative of “the closing of the gate of ijtihad” gained prominence, reshaping accepted paradigms in the field.

He obtained his master’s and doctoral degrees from the University of Washington in 1979 and 1983 in Islamic jurisprudence and law, respectively. In 1985, he joined McGill University in Canada as an assistant professor of Islamic law. In 1994, he became a full professor, and named a James McGill Professor in Islamic Law in 2005. Professor Hallaq has produced many pioneering research papers and books, addressing various topics ranging from the emergence of Islam to our modern history. Among his distinguished works are: “The Impossible State” and “Reforming Modernity: Ethics and the New Human in the Philosophy of Taha Abdurrahman,” and “The Origins and Evolution of Islamic Law.” His intellectual works in the field of Islamic studies have shaped Western academic education on Islamic law, and his books and articles have been translated into more than 10 languages, including Japanese, Indonesian, Italian, Russian, German, Albanian, and others. The scientific efforts of Professor Wael Hallaq have been crowned with numerous awards, including his book “The Impossible State” winning the Columbia’s distinguished Book Award in 2015 for two consecutive years. In 2020, he won the Nautilus Book Award for his book “Reforming Modernity.” Then, in 2021, he received the TÜBA Prize awarded by the Turkish Academy of Science, in appreciation of his innovative and pioneering ideas and contributions to the field of humanities and social sciences. Later that same year, he was elected as an honorary member of this academy. In his acceptance speech during the ceremony he said, “Without talent and inspiration, also inexplicable, we have no hope of intellectual and artistic achievement, and so I am extremely grateful for whatever I have been endowed with, and for any hand that lent me help. I never take any of these for granted.”

King Faisal Prize for Arabic Language & Literature for 2024 on the topic of “Non-Arab Institutions and their Endeavors to Promote Arabic” was withheld due to nominated works not elevating to the criteria of the prize.

This year’s medicine prize topic is “Management of Peripheral Disabilities”. Professor Jerry Mendell, Director of Gene Therapy Center at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, received the prize for his pioneering work in the screening, early diagnosis, and treatment of patients with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), Duchenne muscular dystrophy, and limb girdle muscular dystrophies. He was the first investigator to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of high doses of AAV-mediated gene transfer therapy in patients with SMA type 1, a treatment that is globally approved. He demonstrated that it takes courage, commitment, and determination to translate preclinical developments for the benefit of patients. In his acceptance speech, he said, “The principles of the award that reflect King Faisal’s intent to relieve human suffering are consistent with my own views and lifetime achievements. I have done everything I could do to improve the quality and prolong life for patients afflicted with neuromuscular diseases.”

As for the Prize in Science, it was awarded to Professor Howard Chang, a professor at Stanford University in the United States, Professor Howard Yuan-Hao Chang is awarded the prize for his pioneering contributions in elucidating the role of long non-coding RNAs in gene regulation and function, overturning the previous belief that 98% of human DNA is non-functional. Professor Chang co-developed innovative genome-wide approaches for identifying DNA regulatory regions. These discoveries are having a powerful impact across molecular biology and genetics and have important implications for understanding complex human diseases. In his acceptance speech during the ceremony, Professor Chang said, “Our research asked a basic question: how do cells decide when and where to switch different genes on? How do these decisions get passed over time? Our studies led us to a new class of RNAs, called long noncoding RNAs, that help cells remember their cell fates. Our understanding of the gene switches led to an understanding of how inherited genetic differences cause disease, especially immune diseases. This understanding also helped to tackle mutations that arise in cancer.”

Since 1979, King Faisal Prize in its 5 different categories has awarded 295 laureates who have made distinguished contributions to different sciences and causes. Each prize laureate is endowed with USD 200 thousand (SAR 750,000); a 24-carat gold medal weighing 200 grams, and a Certificate inscribed with the Laureate’s name and a summary of their work which qualified them for the prize.

Riyadh, KSA, January 10, 2024:

A prize selection committee for King Faisal Prize for Service to Islam, headed by His Royal Highness Prince Turki Al-Faisal, met today to select the 2024 King Faisal Prize laureate in the Service to Islam category: one of the Prize’s five categories.

The Service to Islam prize reflects the primary objectives of the King Faisal Prize to ingrain Islamic values and ideas in the society and highlight their key role in enriching knowledge and human development. It aims to benefit Muslims in their present and future through awarding and acknowledging the distinguished efforts of individuals and institutions that have excelled in serving Islam and Muslims. To qualify for the prize, an individual or an institution should have rendered exceptional services to Islam and Muslims through knowledge and deeds or provided other outstanding services that offer far-reaching benefits to Islam and Muslims.

Later this evening, HRH Prince Turki Al-Faisal will announce the names of the 2024 King Faisal prize laureates that were selected over the past 3 days in all five categories, during a ceremony held in Riyadh for guests and media. The event will be streamed live at 8:00 pm (KSA time) through King Faisal Prize’s website and social media platforms.

53 laureates have previously received the Service to Islam prize during the past 45 years. The list of Service to Islam Laureates has comprised rulers, heads of states, thought leaders and social scientists as well as distinguished institutions.

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About King Faisal Prize:

The King Faisal Prize (KFP) was established by the King Faisal Foundation in 1977 and was granted for the first time in 1979. The Prize recognizes the outstanding works of individuals and institutions in five categories: Service to Islam, Islamic Studies, Arabic Language and Literature, Medicine, and Science.

Its aim is to benefit Muslims in their present and future, inspire them to participate in all aspects of civilization, and enrich human knowledge and development.

• Selection Committees started their meetings at King Faisal Prize headquarters to select laureates in Islamic Studies,
  Arabic Language & Literature, Medicine, and Science
• HRH Prince Turki Al-Faisal to chair committee meeting to select the laureate in Service to Islam
• Laureates Names to Be Announced on January 10

Riyadh, KSA, January 8, 2024:

King Faisal Prize will be announcing the names of its 2024 laureates on the 10^th of January in Riyadh. In preparation for the announcement, specialized selection committees of the prize’s 4 categories – Islamic Studies, Arabic Language & Literature, Medicine, and Science started their meetings at the Prize’s headquarters today, 8 January 2024 and will continue until the 10^th. On the 10^th of January, His Royal Highness Prince Turki Al-Faisal Bin Abd Al-Aziz will chair the committee meeting to select the laureate of the Service to Islam prize.

The General Secretariat had announced in 2022 the topics of the 46^th session of King Faisal Prize for 2024, as follows: Islamic Studies “Islamic Legislations and their Contemporary Applications”; Arabic Language & Literature “Non-Arab Institutions and their Endeavors to the Promotion of Arabic”; Medicine “Management of Peripheral Disabilities”; and Science “Biology”.

The General Secretariat also pointed out that nominations are made by scientific institutions, universities, research centres as well as scientific and language councils, provided the nominated individual is alive and their nominated work is already published. The work should also be informative and contribute to the enrichment of knowledge for the development of humanity. Nominations are not accepted from individuals or political parties.

The Prize selection committees this year include experts, specialists, and scholars, coming from 22 different countries to meet in Riyadh and examine the nominated works to select the laureates in an objective and transparent manner, in accordance with the rules and regulations developed by the General Secretariat of the Prize.

A Pioneer in “Islamic Architecture”, a Prominent Critic in “Classical Arabic Narrative and Modern Theories”, Covid-19 Vaccine Developers and Nanotechnology Scientists were honored today in The Prize’s 45^th session

20 March 2023, Riyadh

Under the auspices of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz and in the presence of His Royal Highness Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz, Governor of Riyadh region, on his behalf King Faisal Prize honored today its laureates for this year 2023, in its five categories: Service to Islam, Islamic Studies, Arabic Language & Literature, Medicine, and Science.

This years’ Service to Islam Prize was received by Professor Choi Young Kil-Hamed, Professor of Islamic Studies (Former) at Myeongji University and Hancock University for Foreign Studies in Korea and the Chairman of the Korean Islamic Hiba Fund, making him the first Laureate from South Korea to receive this prize. He contributed to the dissemination of knowledge about the critical aspects of Islamic culture to Far Eastern societies, specifically among Korean-speaking people through translating many Islamic books into Korean, organizing courses to introduce Islam, and teaching Arabic language and Islamic sciences at the Universities of Myeongji and Hankook for Foreign Studies. He chaired several institutions, organizations, and federations, concerned with Muslim affairs. In his acceptance speech, he expressed the sense of greater responsibility to introduce Islamic and Arabic culture to the Korean society.

The Service to Islam Prize was also granted to His Excellency Shaikh Nasser bin Abdullah Al Zaabi, Chairman of the Permanent Council of the Islamic Solidarity Fund (ISF). His efforts in philanthropic and relief work culminated in the creation of several Islamic centers, schools, training centers, hospitals, and dispensaries, in addition to providing care to thousands of orphans, digging hundreds of artesian wells, building several dams, launching agricultural projects, and supporting many vulnerable communities in Africa. He said in his acceptance speech, “The starting point to serve Islam is present in every age and place. Serving Islam starts in yourself, in your family, in your country and society, and in your vast human surroundings, education, advocacy, relief and diverse and complex charitable work, in writing, providing guidance and assistance to those who need help, especially in our days when poverty has grown exponentially, when ignorance and wars abound, and when high prices and diseases spread.”

Professor Robert Hillenbrand, Honorary Professorial Fellow in the department of Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies (IMES) at the University of Edinburgh, was awarded the “Islamic Studies” prize in “Islamic Architecture”. His work was distinguished by its geographic and temporal expansiveness, which covered North Africa, Egypt, Palestine, and Central Asia, and spanned from the early Islamic period till the 19th Century. Professor Hillenbrand has written eleven books, notably “Imperial Images in Persian Painting”; “Islamic Art and Architecture”; “The Architecture of Ottoman Jerusalem”; “Studies in Medieval Islamic Architecture”; “Islamic Architecture: Form, Function and Meaning”; “Studies in the Islamic Decorative Arts”; and “An unknown Masterpiece from Mongol Iran”. During the ceremony, he referred to the huge impact of the glories of Islamic architecture and art on his students in the West, describing it as: “As a way into a previously unknown, even unsuspected, world it cannot be surpassed. The effect can be electric – it is as instantaneous and unprocessed as the response to music; its appeal is beyond words. That experience often has lifelong repercussions for such students.”

Professor Abdelfattah Kilito, Professor at Mohammed V University in Morocco, received the “Arabic Language and Literature” prize which focused on “Classical Arabic Narrative and Modern Theories”. He is considered one of the most prominent Arab critics in the modern era. He creatively and extensively elucidated different genres in Classical Arabic Narrative. He also embodied modern critical approaches within his vision, in a novel and creative method, exploring areas in the Classical Arab Narrative that evaded many before. Among his complete works, which came in five parts: “The Controversy of Languages, The Past and the Present, The Roots of Narration, The Carriers of the Story, and Mirrors.” He also wrote several books, including: “Literature and Strangeness” and “The Eye and the Needle”. During the ceremony, he praised the Prize’s officials for choosing the field of narration and literary criticism as a prize topic this year, underlining the international impact of the Prize stating, “the international dimension of this Prize gives it an added value and raises the benchmark by which scholarly productions and their scholarly value have been assessed in various fields”.

On the topic of “Pandemics and Vaccine Development,” the Medicine Prize was awarded to professors Dan Barouch of Harvard University and Sarah Gilbert of Oxford University. who employed a novel technology in developing Covid-19 viral vectors vaccines: the Johnson & Johnson vaccine and the Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine, respectively. Instead of the traditional vaccines’ method which uses a weakened or killed form of the original infection and requires a long time to develop in the human body, they genetically modified a harmless version of a different virus to carry genetic material to body cells and deliver protection.

In his acceptance speech during the ceremony, Professor Barouch said, “The Ad26 vaccine for COVID-19 demonstrated robust efficacy in humans, even after a single shot, and showed continued protection against virus variants that emerged. This vaccine has been rolled out across the world by the pharmaceutical company Johnson & Johnson, and over 200 million people have received this vaccine, particularly in the developing world”. As for Professor Gilbert, she said that she is “humbled to join the other 2023 laureates today, and to follow-in the footsteps of the men and women whose work has been recognized by the Foundation over more than four decades. This award is in recognition of my work to co-create a vaccine for COVID-19. A low-cost, accessible, efficacious vaccine that has now been used in more than 180 countries and is estimated to have saved more than six million lives by the start of 2022.”

Northwestern University Professor, Chad Mirkin, and the A*STAR Senior Fellow and Director at NanoBio Lab, Professor Jackie Yi-Ru Ying, were awarded the King Faisal Prize for Science in “Chemistry”, for helping define the modern age of nanotechnology and for their various advancements and applications of nanomaterials.

Professor Chad Mirkin is widely recognized for his invention of spherical nucleic acids (SNAs), which are nanostructures composed of nucleic acids in a spherical configuration which enter human cells and tissues and overcome biological barriers, making it possible to detect or treat a disease on the genetic level. More than 1,800 products for medical diagnostics, therapeutics, and life science research were based on this technology. “One vital component of our work aims to use nanotechnology to restructure DNA and RNA into forms that make them more potent medicines for treating debilitating types of cancer and neurological disease. Through this work, we hope to usher in a new era of powerful and precision genetic medicines where we can attack and treat disease at its genetic routes”, said Mirkin in his acceptance speech. He also pioneered artificial intelligence-based materials discovery and invented a method to create patterns directly on different substances with a variety of inks called “dip-pen nanolithography”, which was described by National Geographic as one of the “top 100 scientific discoveries that changed the world”.

As for Professor Jackie Yi-Ru Ying, her research focused on synthesis of advanced nanomaterials and systems, and their application in biomedicine, energy conversion, and catalysis. Her inventions have been used to solve challenges in different fields of medicine, chemistry, and energy. Her development of stimuli-responsive polymeric nanoparticles led to a technology which can autoregulate the release of insulin, depending on the blood glucose levels in diabetic patients without the need for external blood glucose monitoring. “I am deeply honored to be receiving the King Faisal Prize in Science, especially as the first female recipient of this award,” she said in her acceptance speech.

Since 1979, King Faisal Prize in its 5 different categories has awarded 290 laureates who have made distinguished contributions to different sciences and causes. Each prize laureate is endowed with USD 200 thousand (SAR 750,000); a 24-carat gold medal weighing 200 grams, and a Certificate inscribed with the Laureate’s name and a summary of their work which qualified them for the prize.

Two women scientists were announced King Faisal Prize for Medicine and Science laureates for 2023: a Covid-19 vaccine developer and a nanotechnology scientist. Six others were announced King Faisal Prize laureates for having enriched humanity with key and invaluable achievements and discoveries in the fields of Medicine, Science, Arabic Language & Literature, Islamic Studies, and Serving Islam.

The woman behind Oxford–AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, Professor Sarah Gilbert, the Saïd Chair of Vaccinology in the Nuffield Department of Medicine at Oxford University, was selected to receive King Faisal Prize in medicine. She has co-created the vaccine which has been in use in more than 180 countries saving billions of lives due to its efficiency, low cost and accessibility.

The vaccine is called “ChAdOx1 nCoV-19” and was achieved in 10 months of work using a novel approach. Instead of the traditional vaccines’ method which uses a weakened or killed form of the original infection and requires a long time to develop in the human body, Gilbert genetically modified a weakened version of a common virus which caused a cold in chimpanzees to be injected in humans without causing an infection. This modified virus became the essence of the vaccine developed by Dr. Gilbert against coronavirus carrying the genetic instructions for the coronavirus spike protein. When entering the body cells, the virus uses a genetic code or instructions to produce the specific surface spike protein of the coronavirus inducing an immune response and preparing the immune system to attack coronavirus if it infects the body.

Dr. Gilbert’s innovative vaccine technologies used lately for COVID-19 were also applied by her to Malaria, Ebola, Influenza, and MERS, with clinical trials of the latter taking place in the UK and in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. She also worked on developing a medicine for it. In fact, the patented ChAdOx1 technology was developed by Dr. Gilbert and other researchers at the University of Oxford in 2012. In 2014, she led the first trial of an Ebola vaccine after a large outbreak of the disease in West Africa. It was because of the ChAdOx1 technology and her accumulated research that the Oxford–AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine was produced so quickly.

The other woman scientist selected to receive King Faisal Prize in science is Professor Jackie Yi-Ru Ying; the A*STAR Senior Fellow and Director at NanoBio Lab, Agency for Science, Technology, and Research. She was chosen for her work on the synthesis of various advanced nanomaterials and systems, and their applications in catalysis, energy conversion, and biomedicine. Her inventions have been used to solve challenges in different fields of medicine, chemistry, and energy. Her development of stimuli-responsive polymeric nanoparticles led to a technology which can autoregulate the release of insulin, depending on the blood glucose levels in diabetic patients without the need for external blood glucose monitoring. Dr. Ying’s laboratory has pioneered the synthesis of mesoporous and microporous transition metal oxides; a class of nanomaterials used in energy storage and conversion, by supramolecular templating (organizing or assembling entities).

Dr. Ying has more than 180 primary patents and patent applications; 32 of which have been licensed to multinational and start-up companies for a range of applications in nanomedicine, drug delivery, cell and tissue engineering, medical implants, biosensors, medical devices, and others. Her work is at the intersection of nanotechnology and technical medicine and has culminated in the establishment of six successful start-ups and spinoff companies.

Two other Medicine and Science Prize laureates were selected for 2023:  Professor Dan Barouch, the Director of the Center for Virology and Vaccine Research at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and the William Bosworth Castle Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, and Professor Chad Mirkin, the Director of the International Institute for Nanotechnology (IIN) and the Rathmann Professor of Chemistry and Professor of Medicine, Materials Science and Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, and Chemical and Biological Engineering at Northwestern University, respectively.

Professor Dan Barouch developed another COVID-19 viral vector vaccine; the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, using the same technology behind the Oxford–AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine. It was administered to hundreds of millions of people worldwide saving their lives. The vaccine was achieved quickly, like Oxford vaccine, in 13 months and was based on engineering a harmless adenovirus (called Ad26) which was a common type of virus that caused mild cold symptoms when it infected a person. The genetically modified virus carries the genetic code for the coronavirus spike protein. After the injection of adenovirus, the cells use the genetic code and produce a spike protein to train the immune system, creating antibodies and memory cells to protect against COVID-19 infection.

The development of the Ad26 vaccine platform was the result of research work and clinical trials to develop vaccine candidates for multiple pathogens of global significance, including HIV and Zika virus, and tuberculosis, making Professor Barouch a pioneer in the creation of a series of vaccine platform technologies that can be used when developing vaccines for emerging infectious diseases, such as COVID-19. Moreover, he led the world’s first demonstration of Zika vaccine protection in preclinical studies and launched a series of phase 1 Zika vaccine clinical trials.

The work of Professor Chad Mirkin, which has been at the forefront of nano chemistry for over three decades, has helped define the modern age of nanotechnology. He is widely recognized for his invention of spherical nucleic acids (SNAs), which are nanostructures composed of nucleic acids in a spherical configuration which enter human cells and tissues and overcome biological barriers, making it possible to detect or treat a disease on the genetic level. More than 1,800 products for medical diagnostics, therapeutics, and life science research were based on this technology.

Professor Mirkin is a pioneer in the field of artificial intelligence-based materials discovery. He invented dip-pen nanolithography, which was described by National Geographic as one of the “top 100 scientific discoveries that changed the world”; and HARP (high-area rapid printing) technology, a 3D printing process that can manufacture different products like ceramics at record-breaking throughput.

In addition to Medicine and Science, King Faisal Prize recognized this year the achievements of outstanding thinkers and scholars in the fields of Arabic Language & Literature and Islamic Studies, and honored exemplary leaders who played a pivotal role in serving Islam, Muslims, and humanity at large.

Professor Abdelfattah Kilito was announced the laureate for the “Arabic Language and Literature” prize focusing on “Classical Arabic Narrative and Modern Theories”. He has been a visiting professor and lecturer at the New Sorbonne, Harvard University, Princeton University, the University of Chicago, the University of Oxford, and the College de France. Professor Robert Hillenbrand, Honorary Professorial Fellow in the department of Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies (IMES) at the University of Edinburgh, was selected to receive the “Islamic Studies” prize in “Islamic Architecture”. His work was distinguished by its geographic and temporal expansiveness, which covered North Africa, Egypt, Palestine, and Central Asia, and spanned from the early Islamic period till the 19th Century.

As for the Service to Islam Prize, Professor Choi Young Kil-Hamed and His Excellency Shaikh Nasser bin Abdullah Al Zaabi were this year’s laureates.

Since 1979, King Faisal Prize in its 5 different categories has awarded 290 laureates who have made distinguished contributions to different sciences and causes. Each prize laureate is endowed with USD 200 thousand; a 24-carat gold medal weighing 200 grams, and a Certificate inscribed with the Laureate’s name and a summary of their work which qualified them for the prize.