Ken Stuart, PhD, Elected to the National Academy of Sciences
Published
May 2026 — Seattle Children’s proudly celebrates the election of Ken Stuart, PhD, to the prestigious National Academy of Sciences (NAS). Membership in the NAS is considered one of the highest honors a scientist can receive, recognizing distinguished and continuing achievements in original research.
Dr. Stuart’s election is testament to a 50-year career dedicated to combating global infectious diseases. Some of his contributions to science include:
- The Discovery of RNA Editing: Dr. Stuart discovered the process of RNA editing in trypanosomes — single-celled, parasitic microbes that infect blood and tissues in animals and humans. His work revealed how mRNA sequences that are encoded in genes are changed by editing after their production. He also found that the editing differs between the parasites’ developmental stages which switches it between different modes of energy generation. His research is funded by an NIH grant that has been continuously active since September 1976.
- Read two recent publications on this work:
- Mechanisms of Antigenic Variation: His lab also studies antigenic variation — a process where parasites, like those causing African sleeping sickness and malaria, alter their cell surface compositions to evade the host immune system.
- Systems Immunology and Malaria Vaccination: Over the last 13 years, Dr. Stuart has expanded his focus into systems immunology, conducting molecular analyses of human immune responses to develop malaria vaccines.
It is an honor to receive this recognition, which I share with the dedicated researchers in my lab and the many trainees who have gone on to establish their own research programs. I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to do this research and solve some of these biological puzzles, which I hope will make a global impact.
Dr. Stuart will be formally inducted into the academy at a ceremony in Washington, D.C., next spring.
Related Centers & Programs
Related Articles
Publication Q&A: Molecular Methods to Detect and Quantify Fungal Communities in Cystic Fibrosis Airway Specimens
Published
Study shows DNA-based testing can detect and identify more fungi in the lungs of people with and without cystic fibrosis (CF) compared to traditional culture-based approaches, and that throat swabs may provide useful information about airway fungi.
Dr. Sara Jane Webb Awarded Grant up to $17.25M to Advance Autism Research
Published
Dr. Sara Jane Webb and Seattle Children’s join the international IMPACT Network to pioneer future clinical trials and therapeutic opportunities for children with profound autism.
Advancing Youth Mental and Behavioral Health: Seattle Children’s Shares Crucial Prevention Research
Published
Seattle Children’s Research Institute’s second annual Pediatric Mental and Behavioral Health Research Summit tackles tough topics around suicide and self-harm prevention through evidence-based research and interventions.