On 29 April, the Government of Japan announced that Professor Virginijus Šikšnys of the Vilnius University Life Sciences Center will be awarded the prestigious Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon. The award is granted in recognition of his contributions to promoting academic exchange and strengthening mutual understanding between Japan and Lithuania.
The professor describes the honour as significant not only on a personal level, but also for the country’s scientific community as a whole. “This is a very honourable and somewhat unexpected award, which is probably not so much a personal recognition as it is an acknowledgment of Lithuanian science. It shows that the scientific discoveries made here at the Vilnius University Life Sciences Center are important not only in Lithuania, but also in distant Japan,” says Prof. Šikšnys.
Prof. Virginijus Šikšnys is one of the world’s leading scientists in life sciences, whose work has significantly contributed to the development of genome-editing technologies. His research in CRISPR-Cas9 has opened new possibilities for both fundamental science and medicine.
Among his most notable contributions is his role in strengthening ties with Japan’s scientific community. His collaboration with researchers in the country began more than a decade ago and remains active to this day. “Collaboration with Japanese scientists from universities in Kobe and Tokyo began in various forms more than a decade ago and continues today. I have always admired their curiosity, diligence, and focus on achieving results,” says Prof. Šikšnys.
Equally important is his contribution to the development of Japan’s bioindustry. The professor has actively promoted cooperation between academia and industry, contributed to the dissemination of information on clinical research and commercial projects, and strengthened collaboration in healthcare and biotechnology. According to Prof. Šikšnys, this cooperation is mutually beneficial. “In Japan, a great deal of attention is paid to science, especially applied science, and we can learn a great deal from them about how to turn scientific knowledge into products and technologies,” he notes.
The Order of the Rising Sun is one of Japan’s most prestigious state decorations, awarded for outstanding contributions to international relations and cooperation.