Scientist Named Research Leader in Nanotechnology

Prof. Shapiro has received this recognition for the creation of biomolecular computing devices. So small that more than a trillion fit into one drop of water, these devices are made entirely of DNA and other biological molecules. A recent version was programmed by Shapiro and his research team to identify signs of specific cancers in a test tube, to diagnose the type of cancer and to release drug molecules in response. Though cancer-detecting computers are still in the very early stages, and can thus far only function in test tubes, Shapiro and his research team envision future biomolecular devices that may be injected directly into the human body to detect and prevent or cure disease.

Recently, Prof. Shapiro received the 2004 World Technology Award for Biotechnology and his PhD student Yaakov Benenson received a 100 Top Young Innovators Award from MIT’s Technology Review Magazine.

The Scientific American 50 appears in the magazine’s December issue, arriving on newsstands November 23. The complete list may also be accessed from November 8 at www.sciam.com.

 

Additional information and images are available at http://www.weizmann.ac.il/udi