Feng Zhang

Feng Zhang adapted the CRISPR-Cas9 system for genome editing in mammalian cells and developed the foundational tools and libraries that enabled genome-wide CRISPR knockout screens in cancer cells. His laboratory has continually expanded the CRISPR toolkit by discovering and engineering novel nucleases including Cas12 and Cas13, and contributed to the development of base editors that enable precise nucleotide conversions without double-strand breaks. He has designed genome-scale CRISPR screen libraries used by thousands of laboratories worldwide for cancer gene discovery. His engineering of CRISPR-based diagnostic tools (SHERLOCK) has demonstrated the versatility of CRISPR systems beyond genome editing.