Gregg L. SemenzaCurrently a professor at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, he holds appointments in Genetic Medicine, Pediatrics, Oncology, and Biochemistry, and leads the Vascular Program at the Institute for Cell Engineering.

As an authoritative scholar in the field of oxygen regulation, Dr. Semenza pioneered the discovery of the mechanisms by which cells sense and adapt to changes in oxygen levels. His most significant achievement was the identification of hypoxia-inducible factor.HIF-1, a protein that governs the cellular response to oxygen availability. This foundational discovery has profound implications for understanding and treating hypoxia-related diseases such as cancer and ischemic cardiovascular disorders. For this research, he was awarded the 2019 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.