Breakthrough Prize 2016: Winners

Recipients

1. Fundamental Physics

   Sudbury Neutrino Observatory, Arthur B. McDonald, Atsuto Suzuki, Kōichirō Nishikawa, Takaaki Kajita, Yōichirō Suzuki

   Physics

   For the fundamental discovery and exploration of neutrino oscillations, revealing a new frontier beyond, and possibly far beyond, the standard model of particle physics.

2. Life Sciences

   Edward S. Boyden

   Biology

   for the development and implementation of optogenetics – the programming of neurons to express light-activated ion channels and pumps, so that their electrical activity can be controlled by light.

3. Life Sciences

   Helen Hobbs

   Biology

   for the discovery of human genetic variants that alter the levels and distribution of cholesterol and other lipids, inspiring new approaches to the prevention of cardiovascular and liver disease.

4. Life Sciences

   John Hardy

   Biology

   for discovering mutations in the amyloid precursor protein (APP) gene that cause early onset Alzheimer's disease, linking accumulation of APP-derived beta-amyloid peptide to Alzheimer's pathogenesis and inspiring new strategies for disease prevention.

5. Life Sciences

   Svante Pääbo

   Biology

   for pioneering the sequencing of ancient DNA and ancient genomes, thereby illuminating the origins of modern humans, our relationships to extinct relatives such as Neanderthals, and the evolution of human populations and traits.

6. Mathematics

   Ian Agol

   Math

   for spectacular contributions to low dimensional topology and geometric group theory, including work on the solutions of the tameness, virtually Haken and virtual fibering conjectures.