Shinya Yamanaka

Awards & Honours

Awards Won

Honours

Rankings

Records

Yamanaka's discovery of induced pluripotent stem cells is a cornerstone of modern regenerative medicine. His work has not only earned him the Nobel Prize but also numerous other prestigious awards, reflecting its profound impact. The 2026 approval of iPSC-based therapies for Parkinson's disease and heart failure in Japan marks a direct translation of his research into clinical practice, a milestone that few basic scientists witness in their lifetime. His legacy is defined by his persistence and the transformative potential of his science.

AwardsYamanaka's awards reflect the transformative impact of his work. He shared the 2012 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine with John Gurdon, and received the Millennium Technology Prize that same year. His other honors include the BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Award (2010), the Wolf Prize in Medicine (2011), and the $3 million Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences (2013). He has also received the Robert Koch Prize, the Albert Lasker Basic Medical Research Award, the Canada Gairdner International Award, and the Shaw Prize in Life Science and Medicine.

Honours & Distinctions

Order of Culture

Government of Japan·2012

Awarded for his contributions to science and medicine.

Person of Cultural Merit

Government of Japan·2012

Recognized for his cultural contributions.

Honorary Doctorate

Multiple universities worldwide·2013

Received honorary degrees from several institutions.

Rankings & Lists

Top 100 Most Influential People

TIME·2013

Records & Feats

First to create induced pluripotent stem cells

Historic First·2006

Yamanaka's 2006 paper demonstrated that adult cells could be reprogrammed to a pluripotent state, creating a new field.

First iPSC-based therapies approved

Historic First·2026

Japan's 2026 approval of iPSC-based regenerative medicines for Parkinson's and heart failure was a world first.