Jennifer A. Doudna

Jennifer A. Doudna is the Li Ka Shing Chancellor's Chair in Biomedical and Health Sciences at UC Berkeley, Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator, and Professor of Molecular Therapeutics. She leads a dynamic research group focused on CRISPR-Cas biology, RNA mechanisms, and therapeutic genome editing. Her lab investigates fundamental CRISPR-Cas immune systems in bacteria, engineers novel editing tools (including Cas13 and CasΦ), and develops delivery methods for treating diseases like Huntington's and glioblastoma.

Research interests center on RNA-guided genome interrogation, including:

• CRISPR-Cas structural mechanisms and evolution
• Development of cell-penetrating ribonucleoproteins for in vivo editing
• Phage-bacterial interactions and metagenomic discovery of novel CRISPR systems
• Diagnostic applications leveraging CRISPR indiscriminate nuclease activity

Her publications emphasize CRISPR enzyme engineering, viral evasion mechanisms, and nanoparticle delivery systems. Recent work shows growing focus on machine learning-guided protein optimization, tissue-specific editing, and democratizing genetic medicines.

Scientific Awards:

• Nobel Prize in Chemistry (2020)
• Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator
• Li Ka Shing Chancellor's Chair in Biomedical and Health Sciences

The Doudna Lab mentors graduate students and postdocs in interdisciplinary projects spanning structural biology, virology, and therapeutic development. Collaborations include the Center for Genomic Editing and Recording (CGER) and partnerships with UCSF, Gladstone Institutes, and industry teams to advance CRISPR diagnostics and therapeutics.