Scientists Win Asturias Prize for DNA Sequencing

Why this is here: The scientists’ work reduced the time to sequence a full human genome from months to a single day, a more than one million-fold increase in speed.

David Klenerman, Shankar Balasubramanian, and Pascal Mayer receive the 2026 Princess of Asturias Award for Scientific and Technical Research in Spain. The three scientists developed techniques for next-generation DNA sequencing, making genetic analysis faster and more affordable. Balasubramanian and Klenerman created the Solexa-Illumina technology, while Mayer pioneered similar parallel sequencing principles independently.

Previously, sequencing a human genome took months and cost millions of dollars. Now, the process can occur in a single day for under one thousand dollars.

Their work enabled rapid sequencing of the Covid-19 virus, accelerating vaccine development and tracking new variants. The technology supports large projects like the International Cancer Genome Project and Genomics England.

The Foundation Princess of Asturias notes this advance built upon fifteen years of prior research. While the technology has revolutionized fields like biomedicine and forensics, challenges remain in applying these advancements equitably across healthcare systems. Further research continues to expand the clinical applications of genomic sequencing.