Mary-Claire King

Born: 1946

Country of Birth: USA

Nationality: USA

Ethnicity: White

Carleton College BA Mathematics 1967; UC Berkeley PhD Genetics 1973; Postdoctoral work UCSF

Field of Study: Genetics

Institution/Corporation: University of Washington; UC Berkeley

Degrees & Memberships: Honorary Degrees: Williams College (2019), University of British Columbia (2018), University of Hong Kong (2016), Tel Aviv University (2008), Princeton University (2008), Yale University (2007), Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (2006), Brown University (2005), Columbia University (2003), Harvard University (2003), Bard College (1995), Smith College (1994), Carleton College (1992); Member: American Philosophical Society (2012), National Academy of Sciences (2005), National Academy of Medicine (1994), American Academy of Arts & Sciences (1993)

Awards: 2014, Lasker-Koshland Special Achievement Award in Medical Science; 2014, National Medal of Science; 2002, named 1 of 50 Most Important Women in Science, Discover Magazine;2004, Gruber Prize in Genetics; 2006, A.H.Heineken Prize for Medicine; 2006, Weizmann Women & Science Award, Weizmann Institute of Science; 2010, Pearl Meister Greengard Prize; 2018, Shaw Prize in Medicine, China; 2021, Canada Gairdner International Award; 2021, William Allan Award, American Society of Human Genetics (ASHG); 2018, Mendel Medal; 2018, Advocacy Award, ASHG; 2018, Dan David Prize, Israel; 2018, Benjamin Franklin Medal for Distinguished Achievement in the Sciences; 2016, TUBA Academy Prize in Health & Life Sciences, Turkish Academy of Sciences; 2014, Hudson Alpha Life Sciences Prize; 2013, Paul Erhlich & Ludwig Darmstaedler Prize; 2010, CSHL Double Helix Medal Honoree;2005, Award for Excellence in Molecular Diagnostics, Association for Molecular Pathology; 1999, Basic Science Award, Brinker International Awards for Breast Cancer Research, Susan G. Komen for the Cure; 1996, inaugural Jill Rose Award, Breast Cancer Research F; 1994, G.H.A. Clowes Award, American Association for Cancer Research & Eli Lilly & Co; 1993, Woman of the Year, Glamour Magazine; 1993, Golden Plate Award, American Association of Achievement; 1992, Susan G. Komen Foundation Award for Distinguished Achievement in Breast Cancer; 2020, William L. McGuire Memorial Lecture Award; 2016, Szent-Gyorgyi Prize for Progress in Cancer Research

Achievements: interested in genetic heterogeneity & complex traits; studies the interaction of genetics & environmental influences & their effects on human conditions such as breast & ovarian cancer, inherited deafness, Schizophrenia, HIV, systemic Lupus erythematosis & rheumatoid arthritis; 1984 worked in Argentina & identified 59 children stolen from their families & illegally adopted by military families during the Dirty War (1976-1983); worked with Ralph Nader for 1 year investigating pesticide use & its effect on farm workers;