IRM Awards 5th Elaine Redding Brinster Prize to Zhijian ‘James’ Chen, PhD
Recognized for his groundbreaking discovery of the DNA-sensing enzyme cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGas) and its role in immune and inflammatory response, the Institute for Regenerative Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania has awarded Zhijian ‘James’ Chen, PhD, the fifth Elaine Redding Brinster Prize in Science or Medicine. Dr. Chen’s discovery answers a fundamental question of how the immune system detects microbial DNA in an infected cell and launches an immune response, opening the door for an entirely new field of study. Consequently, the discovery provides an attractive therapeutic target to treat a wide variety of human diseases ranging from infections to autoimmune and inflammatory disorders, cancers, and neurodegeneration.
“Dr. Chen’s discovery has opened up a foundational understanding of how cells combat invaders that cause human ailments,” said Ken Zaret, PhD, director of Penn’s Institute for Regenerative Medicine and the Joseph Leidy Professor of Cell and Developmental Biology in the Perelman School of Medicine. “We are thrilled that the Brinster Prize is now in its fifth year and growing acclaim for bringing attention to the creative work of the world’s best scientists like Dr. Chen.”
The prize, supported by an endowment from the children of Elaine Redding Brinster, is awarded annually to a researcher whose singular discovery has made a unique impact on biomedicine. The winner will receive $200,000, a commemorative medal, and an invitation to present a ceremonial lecture at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Chen will accept the prize March 18, 2026, as part of the day-long Ralph L. Brinster Symposium. The symposium will feature several eminent speakers from across the biomedical sciences, including including Paola Arlotta, PhD, of Harvard University; Helen Blau, PhD, of Stanford University; Kevan Shokat, PhD, of UC San Francisco and UC Berkeley; and Anne Brunet, PhD, of Stanford University.