1993 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine
1986 Gairdner International Awards Winner
Institute Professor, David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Dr Sharp received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1993 for his landmark work on the molecular biology of gene expression relevant to cancer and the mechanisms of RNA splicing. His lab has now turned its attention to understanding how RNA molecules act as switches to turn genes on and off (RNA interference). These newly discovered processes have revolutionized cell biology and could potentially generate a new class of therapeutics.

Dr. Sharp has authored over 360 scientific papers. His work has earned him numerous cancer research awards and presidential and national scientific board appointments. He is elected member of the National Academy of Sciences and the Institute of Medicine. He is also the recipient of the Gairdner Foundation International Award, the Lasker Basic Medical Research Award, the National Medal of Science and the Inaugural Double Helix Medal for Scientific Research from Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. Dr. Sharp earned a B.A. degree from Union College, KY, and a PhD in chemistry from the University of Illinois. He is the co-founder of Biogen (now Biogen Idec) and Alnylam Pharmaceuticals and serves on the boards of both companies.