MORE►
cGAS enzyme
Zhijian “James” Chen, Ph.D., a professor of molecular biology at UT Southwestern Medical Center, is a winner of the 2026 Japan Prize in Life Sciences. [Video still: UTSW]
UT Southwestern Biochemist To Receive Prestigious 2026 Japan Prize in Life Sciences
by Sandra Engelland | Jan 21, 2026
Zhijian “James” Chen is receiving the prize for his discoveries about the immune system, including cGAS, which "acts as the body’s burglar alarm to trigger defense from invading pathogens," UTSW said. Numerous winners of the Japan Prize have gone on to win the Nobel Prize for their achievements.
