October 14, 2021

Fundamental research to understand how bacteria fight viral infections uncovered the function of CRISPR-Cas programmable proteins that detect and cut specific DNA or RNA sequences. I will describe our research showing how CRISPR-Cas9, an RNA-guided protein, can be used for re-writing the DNA in cells and organisms to create a widely accessible technology for genome editing. Current research focuses on continuing to explore the biochemical basis for genome editing, and to develop effective applications in medicine and agriculture. I will also discuss the development of CRISPR-based diagnostics technology to address the current coronavirus pandemic and improve future preparedness. Finally, I will present ideas for a future of science that incorporates lessons from the pandemic including collaboration, teamwork and public access to scientific progress.