Gregg L. Semenza

Gregg L. Semenza is an American scientist known for his groundbreaking research on how cells respond to low oxygen levels, or hypoxia. He discovered a key protein called HIF-1 that helps cells adapt by activating specific genes during oxygen shortages. His work has important implications for understanding conditions like cancer, anemia, and heart disease, as tumors often grow in low-oxygen environments. Semenza’s discoveries have advanced our knowledge of cellular biology and earned him numerous awards, including the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2019.