Dr. Emmanuelle Charpentier is an expert in the regulatory mechanisms underlying infection and immune processes of bacteria. She invented and is the co-owner of the intellectual property of the CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing technology. This technology has led to a better understanding of the molecular pathways that regulate antibiotic resistance.
CRISPR-Cas9 has applications across many diverse fields of science, including human and veterinary medicine, agriculture and biotechnology. Its broad applicability, versatility and ease of use have led to its rapid adoption by the scientific community.
Dr. Charpentier studied biochemistry, microbiology and genetics at Université Pierre-et-Marie-Curie (now part of Sorbonne University) in Paris and received a PhD in microbiology for her research at the Pasteur Institute, also in Paris.
She then pursued her scientific career in the United States, at the Rockefeller University, New York University Medical Center (now NYU Langone Health) and the Skirball Institute of Biomolecular Medicine (all in New York City) and at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (in Memphis, Tennessee).
In 2018, she founded the Max Planck Unit for the Science of Pathogens, an independent institute affiliated with the Max Planck Society, where she serves as both scientific and managing director.
2020 Nobel Prize in Chemistry laureate (with Jennifer Doudna), Dr. Charpentier has also received numerous international distinctions, decorations, honours, prizes, awards and honorary doctorates from Europe, Asia and North America for her and her team's contributions to the discovery of CRISPR-Cas9 and has been elected to national and international scientific academies.
Photo : Hallbauer & Fioretti