Sir Martin J. Evans
Nobel laureate: Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (2007)
Biography
Sir Martin John Evans, born on January 1, 1941, in Stroud, England, became a leading biologist in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. His groundbreaking work in embryonic stem cell research and gene targeting changed biological research and led to new medical treatment options. Evans went to St Dunstan's College and then won a major scholarship to Christ's College, Cambridge, where he developed his interest in biology and biochemistry during a time of important genetic advancements at the school.
After finishing his undergraduate studies at Cambridge, Evans did his graduate work at University College London. There, he improved his lab skills with the guidance of Elizabeth Deuchar, which was critical for his later research. In 1978, he returned to Cambridge and joined the Department of Genetics, where he did his most important scientific work. Starting in 1980, he worked with Matthew Kaufman and, in 1981, they became the first scientists to successfully grow mouse embryonic stem cells in a lab.
Evans and Kaufman's work involved using blastocysts to isolate these stem cells. After Kaufman left, Evans continued to develop these methods, always updating his laboratory to use the latest technologies. He isolated embryonic stem cells from early mouse embryos, established stable cell cultures, and then genetically modified these cells, implanting them into adult female mice to create genetically modified offspring. This work laid the groundwork for knockout mouse technology, which became essential in genetic research.
Evans's contributions were recognized with many prestigious awards. For his work on gene targeting and knockout mice with Mario Capecchi and Oliver Smithies, he earned the 2007 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. He also received the March of Dimes Prize in Developmental Biology in 1999 and the Albert Lasker Award for Basic Medical Research in 2001, followed by the Copley Medal in 2009, a top science honor. Evans became a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences, joined EMBO, and received honorary doctorates from University College London, the University of Cambridge, and the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.
Before Fame
Evans grew up at a time when DNA's structure was being discovered and the basics of molecular biology were being formed. His education at St Dunstan's College set him up for advanced scientific study, and his scholarship to Christ's College, Cambridge, put him at the heart of genetic research in the 1960s. This was a lucky period to be there, as Cambridge was making many breakthroughs in genetics, which had a big impact on his career path.
Choosing to study further at University College London with Elizabeth Deuchar gave him important hands-on lab experience in developmental biology. This practical training in cell culture and embryology techniques laid the groundwork for his groundbreaking work with embryonic stem cells. The mix of theoretical knowledge from Cambridge and practical skills from UCL allowed Evans to make big contributions to the new field of stem cell biology.
Key Achievements
- First scientist to successfully culture mouse embryonic stem cells in laboratory conditions with Matthew Kaufman (1981)
- Co-developed gene targeting and knockout mouse technology with Mario Capecchi and Oliver Smithies
- Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine recipient (2007) for discoveries concerning embryonic stem cells and gene targeting
- Recipient of major scientific honors including the Albert Lasker Award (2001) and Copley Medal (2009)
- Established foundational techniques that enabled modern genetic research using mouse models
Did You Know?
- 01.Evans was elected a Fellow of the Learned Society of Wales in 2015, recognizing his contributions to Welsh scientific culture
- 02.His collaboration with Matthew Kaufman lasted only briefly, but their 1981 breakthrough in culturing mouse embryonic stem cells changed biology forever
- 03.The knockout mouse technology he helped develop has been used to create mouse models for thousands of human diseases
- 04.Evans received the William Bate Hardy Prize in 1993, an award given by the Cambridge Philosophical Society for biological research
- 05.His work directly enabled the creation of the first genetically modified mice designed to study specific human genetic disorders
Awards & Honors
| Award | Year | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine | 2007 | for their discoveries of principles for introducing specific gene modifications in mice by the use of embryonic stem cells |
| Albert Lasker Award for Basic Medical Research | 2001 | — |
| Copley Medal | 2009 | — |
| EMBO Membership | — | — |
| March of Dimes Prize in Developmental Biology | 1999 | — |
| William Bate Hardy Prize | 1993 | — |
| honorary doctor of University College London | — | — |
| honorary doctor of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki | — | — |
| honorary doctorate from the University of Cambridge | — | — |
| Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences | — | — |
| Baly Medal | 2009 | — |
| honorary doctor of the University of Bath | — | — |
| Fellow of the Royal Society | — | — |
| Knight Bachelor | — | — |
| Fellow of the Learned Society of Wales | 2013 | — |
| Clarivate Citation Laureates | 2006 | — |