About the Prize 
The Richard N. Merkin Prize in Biomedical Technology, created by the Merkin Family Foundation and administered by the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, recognizes pathbreaking technologies that have significantly improved human health and carries a $400,000 award. The prize illuminates the important work taking place across multiple disciplines, and in doing so supports and inspires continued innovation. The Merkin Prize has an intentional focus on real-world impact, and a goal of shining a light on novel technologies and how these advances are transforming health care. 

The inaugural prize was presented to Marvin Caruthers, Distinguished Professor, University of Colorado in September 2023 for developing a technology that efficiently synthesizes DNA. The 2024 prize was awarded to F. William Studier, Senior Biophysicist Emeritus, Brookhaven National Laboratory for developing the T7 Expression System for the production of RNAs and proteins. 

About the Merkin Family Foundation
The Merkin Family Foundation was founded by visionary health care executive Richard Merkin, MD. 

Richard Merkin, MD is the founder and CEO of Heritage Provider Network, Inc. (HPN). HPN is one of the largest physician founded and physician owned managed care organizations in the country dedicated to value-based healthcare delivery improvements. HPN develops and manages coordinated, patient-doctor centric, integrated health care systems that offer some of the strongest solutions for the future of health, care, and cost in the United States. HPN and its affiliates operate in New York, California, and Arizona, providing high-quality, cost-effective healthcare with over one million patient members. HPN is dedicated to quality, affordable health care, and putting patients’ wellness first. 

Learn more at merkinprize.org