Peking University, May 9, 2026: The U.S. National Academy of Sciences recently announced its newly elected members in April. Professor He Chuan, founding director of the Synthetic and Functional Biomolecules Center, John T. Wilson Distinguished Service Professor at the University of Chicago, and visiting professor at Peking University, was elected in recognition of his outstanding contributions to chemical biology and RNA epigenetics.
 


Professor He Chuan received his bachelor's degree from the University of Science and Technology of China in 1994 and his Ph.D. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2000. He then completed postdoctoral research at Harvard University and joined the Department of Chemistry at the University of Chicago in 2002. In 2013, he was named a Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) Investigator. In 2023, he received the Wolf Prize in Chemistry.

Professor He Chuan is a leading scientist in RNA epigenetics. His research on reversible RNA methylation has helped explain how chemical modifications of nucleic acids regulate gene expression. His work has opened a new field of study and has provided important insights into major diseases, including cancer, as well as new directions for precision diagnosis, treatment, and drug development.

Professor He Chuan also has close ties with Peking University. In 2011, he helped establish the Synthetic and Functional Biomolecules Center and served as its founding director from 2011 to 2020. Under his guidance, the center has grown into an important platform for interdisciplinary research, talent training, and international academic exchange. 

Professor He's election to the National Academy of Sciences recognizes his important scientific achievements and highlights the contributions of Chinese scientists to the global research community. Peking University warmly congratulates Professor He Chuan on this honor.

Written by: Akaash Babar
Edited by: Chen Shizhuo
Source: PKU Chemistry WeChat (Chinese)