The Lasker Foundation welcomes the recipients of the 2021 Awards into the pantheon of 75 years of Lasker Laureates.

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2021 Albert Lasker Basic Medical Research Award

Karl Deisseroth, Peter Hegemann, and Dieter Oesterhelt are honored for discoveries concerning light-sensitive microbial proteins and the development of optogenetics.

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2021 Lasker~DeBakey Clinical Medical Research Award

Katalin Karikó and Drew Weissman are recognized for the discovery of a new therapeutic technology based on the modification of messenger RNA.

2021 Lasker~Koshland Special Achievement Award

David Baltimore is honored for the breadth and beauty of his discoveries in virology, immunology, and cancer; for his academic leadership; for his mentorship of prominent scientists; and for his public advocacy for science.

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The Surprise Element

Truly creative works of science and art produce unexpected and surprising results—just like the punch line of a good joke that generates an unfamiliar twist on a familiar idea.

Media Center

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