Four from Penn elected to the National Academy of Sciences

Please join us in congratulating John Wherry, PhD who has been elected to the National Academy of Sciences (NAS), one of the highest honors a scientist can receive.

John has been recognized for his pioneering work in immunology and T cell exhaustion which has revolutionized our understanding of immune responses in chronic infections and cancer, leading to innovative therapeutic approaches. 

Katalin has been recognized for her groundbreaking research that has transformed our understanding of mRNA technology and its therapeutic applications.

Election to the NAS is achieved solely through nomination by current members and follows a rigorous evaluation process. This year, the Academy elected 120 new members and 30 international members, bringing the total membership to 2,662 active members and over 556 international members. Approximately 200 Academy members have received Nobel Prizes, underscoring the exceptional distinction of its membership.

This remarkable achievement highlights the exceptional quality of our faculty and their research. Please join me in congratulating both John and Katalin! 

The complete list of new NAS members is available on the Academy’s website. New members also include UPenn Faculty Members Virginia Lee, Katalin Karikó (PSOM) and Mark Devlin (SAS).