Adrian Robert Krainer

Adrian Robert Krainer is a Uruguayan-American biochemist and molecular geneticist who holds the St. Giles Foundation Professorship at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory in Laurel Hollow, New York. He is also a faculty member of graduate programs in Genetics, Molecular and Cellular Biology, and Molecular Genetics and Microbiology at State University of New York, Stony Brook.

Dr. Krainer received his Bachelor of Arts in Biochemistry from Columbia University (1981), graduating cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa, followed by a PhD in biochemistry from Harvard University (1986). His groundbreaking research focuses on RNA splicing mechanisms with transformative applications in genetic medicine. His work bridges molecular genetics and therapeutic development, particularly in creating treatments for previously incurable genetic disorders through RNA-targeted therapies.

Dr. Krainer's research trajectory demonstrates consistent innovation in understanding RNA processing with direct clinical applications. His most significant contribution is co-developing Spinraza, the first FDA-approved treatment for spinal muscular atrophy, which has transformed outcomes for thousands of patients worldwide.

His distinguished recognition includes:

• Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences (2019)
• Wolf Prize in Medicine (2021)
• Albany Medical Center Prize (2024)
• Member of the National Academy of Sciences (2020)
• RNA Society Lifetime Achievement Award (2019)

As an educator and mentor, Dr. Krainer has guided numerous students including Ewan Birney. He co-founded Stoke Therapeutics to develop novel RNA-targeted medicines for severe genetic disorders. His personal background as the child of Holocaust survivors has informed his dedication to medical research with tangible human impact.

Dr. Krainer was born in Montevideo, Uruguay to a Jewish family of Hungarian and Romanian descent. His wife Kate Krainer is a plant geneticist, and they have three children together.