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Jean Bennett ’72 Awarded ‘Oscar of Science’ for Work in Gene Therapy and Blindness
Molecular biologist Jean Bennett, a 1972 graduate of Day Prospect Hill (DPH), was honored with the Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences on April 18, 2026, in Los Angeles. Bennett was given the award in recognition of her decades-long commitment to developing Luxturna, the first FDA-approved gene therapy for an inherited disease.
Bennett shared the prize with her longtime collaborator and husband, ophthalmologist Albert Maguire, and physician Katherine High. The trio was recognized for their work in restoring vision to patients with Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA), a rare genetic disorder that can lead to total blindness by early adulthood.
Bennett was a member of the final class to graduate Day Prospect Hill before it merged with Hopkins Grammar School in 1973. She was named a Hopkins School Distinguished Alumna in 2020. Click here to read more about her 2020 Distinguished Alumna Award.
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