Douglas C. Wallace, PhD, Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and the Michael and Charles Barnett Endowed Chair in Pediatric Mitochondrial Medicine and Metabolic Disease at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, is the recipient of the 2017 Benjamin Franklin Medal in Life Science. Awarded annually by the Franklin Institute, the Franklin Awards reflect the spirit of discovery embodied by Benjamin Franklin and recognize outstanding achievements in science, technology, and industry around the world since 1824. Past laureates include Thomas Edison, Marie Curie, Nikola Tesla, Stephen Hawking, Jacques Cousteau, and more recently Jane Goodall and Bill Gates.

Dr. Wallace was cited for his scientific accomplishments demonstrating the maternal inheritance of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) in humans, using mtDNA variation to reconstruct ancient human migrations, identifying the first mtDNA mutation associated with an inherited disease, and showing that mutant mtDNA can profoundly affect the nuclear genome, causing complex diseases, thereby leading the way to therapies for those diseases and the aging process. The other Franklin Medal laureate from the Department ranks is emeritus Department member Dr. Peter Nowell, who received the award in 2010.
Read the CHOP Research Communications post.