Swee Lay Thein

Awards

1. 2024

   Shaw Prize — Life Science and Medicine

   Biology

   For their discovery of the genetic and molecular mechanisms underlying the fetal-to-adult hemoglobin switch, making possible a revolutionary and highly effective genome-editing therapy for sickle cell anemia and β thalassemia, devastating blood diseases that affect millions of people worldwide.

2. 2026

   Breakthrough Prize — Life Sciences

   Biology

   For elucidating the mechanism driving the switch from fetal to adult hemoglobin and validating it as a therapeutic target for sickle-cell disease and beta-thalassemia.