Barrier Immunity Advisory Editorial Board Member Zhijian (James) Chen Awarded 2026 Japan Prize Laureates

The Japan Prize Foundation announced on January 21 the recipients of the 2026 Japan Prize. In the Life Science category, the Prize will be awarded to our Advisory Editorial Board Member, Professor Zhijian (James) Chen of the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and Professor Shizuo Akira of Osaka University for their seminal discoveries of nucleic acid recognition mechanisms in innate immunity, which plays a critical role in rapidly detecting the invasion of pathogens such as viruses and bacteria and initiating defensive responses. They discovered proteins that sense pathogen-derived nucleic acids (DNA and RNA) and elucidated the mechanisms by which this information is transmitted within cells to trigger immune responses. The Japan Prize was established in 1981 based on donations from the private sector, following a government initiative to create an internationally prestigious award that would contribute to the advancement of science and technology worldwide. The prize was formally realized in 1983 with Cabinet approval. The Japan Prize is awarded to scientists and engineers worldwide who have achieved original, groundbreaking accomplishments that significantly advance science and technology and are recognized for outstanding contributions to the peace and prosperity of humankind. Each year, two fields are designated from across all areas of science and technology, taking into account current trends and developments. In principle, one award is given per field. Each laureate receives a certificate, a medal, and a monetary prize of 100 million yen per field. Dr. Zhijian “James” Chen is a world-renowned biochemist at UT Southwestern Medical Center recognized for his transformative discoveries in innate immunity, specifically the cGAS-STING pathway that acts as a cellular “burglar alarm” to detect foreign or damaged DNA. His pioneering work also includes identifying the MAVS protein, which is essential for antiviral defense. For these groundbreaking contributions, he has received some of science's highest honors, including the 2024 Albert Lasker Basic Medical Research Award, and the 2025 Paul Ehrlich and Ludwig Darmstaedter Prize. A member of the National Academy of Sciences, USA and a Fellow of the Royal Society, Dr. Chen's research continues to drive the development of innovative therapies for cancer, autoimmune diseases, and infectious diseases. The award ceremony is held in the presence of Their Majesties, the Emperor and Empress of Japan, along with the heads of the three branches of government, relevant ministers, and representatives from various sectors. Xiao-Kang Li: conceptualization, validation, supervision, writing – original draft, writing – review and editing. The author has nothing to report. The author declares no conflicts of interest. Research data are not shared.