Amory Prize Presentation to Haifan Lin

Yale President Peter Salovey hosted a celebration of stem cell biologist Haifan Lin as he received the Amory Prize of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. The program took place in the Henry R. Luce Hall and featured remarks by President Salovey, Academy President David W. Oxtoby, and School of Medicine Dean Nancy Brown. Following the award presentation, Dr. Lin offered remarks of acceptance and reflection on his work. 

Lin is the Eugene Higgins Professor of Cell Biology; Professor of Genetics, of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, and of Dermatology; and Founding Director of the Yale Stem Cell Center. He was elected to the American Academy in 2018. His area of expertise includes the molecular mechanisms underlying the self-renewing division of stem cells, focusing on the processes required for renewal of germline and embryonic stem cells. His contributions include the discovery of the Argonaute/Piwi protein family and examination of its function in stem cell maintenance, germline specification, epigenetic programming, and post-transcriptional regulation. He also studies germline development and stem cell-related cancers. 

First awarded in 1940, the Amory Prize is given to recognize outstanding achievements in medicine and reproductive physiology.