Professor Jun R. Huh of Harvard Medical School, the recipient of the Grand Prize in Life Sciences, is a distinguished scientist who has made significant contributions to the development of treatments for individuals suffering from autism.
He identified a mechanism that increases the risk of autism, revealing that maternal infection during pregnancy leads to an excessive production of the immune molecule interleukin-17 (IL-17). This, in turn, suppresses fetal neural activity. Furthermore, his research demonstrated that postnatal administration of IL-17 directly into the brain has a calming effect, indicating its potential to alleviate autistic symptoms.
These groundbreaking findings were published in the world-renowned journals Science (2016) and Nature (2017), and have been recognized as paradigm-shifting achievements in the field of life sciences.
Professor Huh was selected as the recipient of Achievement Award for Life Sciences at the 19th Mystery of Life Awards for his deep compassion and sense of responsibility toward those who suffer, his dedication to developing therapies for individuals with autism, and his embodiment of Catholic bioethical principles that uphold the dignity of human life.
