Dr. Pengfei Liu receives 2026 O'Donnell Award in Medicine for pioneering advances in genetic diagnostics and rare disease treatment

(Press-News.org) Trailblazing geneticist Pengfei Liu, Ph.D., Associate Professor in the Department of Molecular and Human Genetics at Baylor College of Medicine, is the recipient of the 2026 Edith and Peter O’Donnell Award in Medicine from TAMEST. He was chosen for his transformative use of genome and RNA sequencing to improve the diagnosis and treatment of rare genetic diseases.

 

A global leader in his field, Dr. Liu has consistently expanded the boundaries in the diagnosis and treatment of rare genetic disorders. His contributions span nearly every major advancement in modern clinical genetics – from early discoveries of genome rearrangement mechanisms to transforming exome, whole genome and RNA sequencing into frontline clinical diagnostics. These advancements enable clinicians to analyze a person’s genetic code to better understand diseases, leading to faster and more accurate diagnoses.

 

As a leader in the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Undiagnosed Diseases Network, Dr. Liu helped establish whole-genome and RNA sequencing as clinically approved tests, benefiting thousands of patients and enabling individualized medicine and personalized treatment to give each patient an accurate diagnosis in order to receive the appropriate clinical care.

 

His lab also uses cutting-edge techniques to study how genes behave in specific tissues, which has opened doors to new RNA-based treatments. His work has not only increased the number of patients getting a diagnosis, but also sped up the process of developing treatments for rare and previously mysterious diseases.

 

“Dr. Liu is a true innovator in integrating cutting-edge genomics by using a patient’s genetic information to guide clinical diagnostics and care,” said nominator Arthur L. Beaudet, M.D. (NAM, NAS), Professor Emeritus at Baylor College of Medicine. “His creative advances are directly improving lives, and he truly embodies the spirit of the O’Donnell Awards – advancing science through bold modernization and transformative patient care.”

 

Dr. Liu is one of five Texas-based researchers receiving the TAMEST 2026 Edith and Peter O’Donnell Awards. Each is chosen for their individual contributions addressing the essential role that science and technology play in society, and whose work meets the highest standards of exemplary professional performance, creativity and resourcefulness.

 

Since the inception of the O'Donnell Awards in 2006, nearly $2.2 million has been awarded to more than 85 recipients in the categories of medicine, engineering, biological sciences, physical sciences and technology innovation. Eighteen past recipients have gone on to be elected to the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine, including six elected to more than one National Academy.

 

“The Edith and Peter O’Donnell Awards have shone a spotlight on Texas’ brightest emerging researchers who are pushing the boundaries of science and technology for the past 20 years,” said Edith and Peter O’Donnell Awards Committee Chair Margaret A. Goodell, Ph.D. (NAM, NAS), Baylor College of Medicine, who herself received the O’Donnell Award in Medicine in 2011. “Each year, these awards celebrate not only exceptional individual achievement but also the profound impact that innovative research has on communities, industries and our future. It is inspiring to witness the next generation of trailblazers making Texas a global leader in transformative discovery.”

Dr. Liu will be honored at the 20th Anniversary Edith and Peter O’Donnell Awards Dinner and Ceremony on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, and will present his research at the TAMEST 2026 Annual Conference: Pioneering Climate Innovations, taking place at the Kimpton Santo Hotel in San Antonio, Texas.

All are welcome to register to attend the ceremony and the conference. Nominations for the 2027 Edith and Peter O’Donnell Awards will open Tuesday, January 20, 2026, and close Monday, March 30, 2026, at 6 p.m. CT.

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