Mary-Claire King’s work changed everything. She’s a geneticist who found a link between a specific gene and breast cancer risk. This discovery saved millions of lives. The Princess of Asturias Foundation just awarded her their 2025 Scientific Research Prize.
King’s journey started in Chicago. She studied math and later became a geneticist. Her PhD from Berkeley led to a groundbreaking finding: humans and chimps share 99% of their genes. She then focused on breast cancer. In 1990, she identified the BRCA1 gene, which increases cancer risk when mutated.
This discovery was huge. It changed how we understand cancer. King’s work also helped with rare diseases like Huntington’s and cystic fibrosis. By combining genetics and neuroscience, she’s now studying schizophrenia. Her research shows a link between the disease and specific gene mutations.
But King’s impact goes beyond science. She’s helped with human rights cases. After Argentina’s dictatorship, she worked with the Mothers and Grandmothers of the Plaza de Mayo to identify missing people. Her work led to the creation of Argentina’s National Genetic Data Bank, which helps with future identifications.
The Princess of Asturias Prize is a big deal. It recognizes scientists who advance our knowledge in various fields. This year, King is the winner. Only 12 women have received this prize, and most got it as part of a group.
Previous Winners
Previous winners include:
- Daniel J. Drucker, Jeffrey M. Friedman, Joel F. Habener, Jens Juul Holst, and Svetlana Mojsov (2024)
- Jeffrey Gordo, E. Peter Greenberg, and Bonnie L. Bassler (2023)
- Geoffrey Hinton, Yann Lecun, Yoshua Bengio, and Demis Hassabis (2022)
- Katalin Karikó, Drew Weissman, Philip Felgner, Ugur Sahin, Ozlem Türeci, Derrick Rossi, and Sarah Gilbert (2021)
These scientists have made significant contributions to their fields, from astronomy to medicine.
King’s award is a reminder that science can change lives. Her work has inspired a new generation of researchers. As we look to the future, we can learn from her dedication and perseverance. The Princess of Asturias Prize is a celebration of human curiosity and the power of science to improve our world.