Japan to Award the Order of the Rising Sun to VU Life Sciences Center Professor Virginijus Šikšnys

On 29 April, the Government of Japan announced that Professor Virginijus Šikšnys from the Life Sciences Center of Vilnius University (VU) will be awarded the prestigious Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon. The award recognises his outstanding contributions to promoting academic exchange and strengthening mutual understanding between Japan and Lithuania.

The Professor describes the honour as both significant personally and for the entire Lithuanian scientific community. ‘This is a very honourable and somewhat unexpected award, which is probably less a personal recognition and more an acknowledgement of Lithuanian science as a whole. It shows that the scientific discoveries made here, at the Life Sciences Center of Vilnius University, are valued not only in Lithuania but also reach as far as Japan,’ said Prof. Šikšnys.

Prof. Šikšnys is one of the world’s leading scientists in the life sciences field, whose work has made a major contribution to the development of genome-editing technologies. His research on CRISPR-Cas9 has opened up new opportunities for both fundamental science and medical innovation.

Among his key achievements is his contribution to strengthening ties with the Japanese scientific community. His collaboration with researchers in Japan started more than a decade ago and continues to this day. ‘Our cooperation with scientists from Kobe University and the University of Tokyo began over a decade ago and remains active in various forms. I have always been impressed by their curiosity, diligence, and strong focus on results,’ shared Prof. Šikšnys.

Equally important is his contribution to the development of Japan’s bioindustry: the Professor has actively promoted cooperation between academia and industry, helped disseminate information on clinical research and commercial projects, and strengthened collaboration in the fields of healthcare and biotechnology. According to Prof. Šikšnys, this cooperation is mutually beneficial: ‘In Japan, science – especially applied research – receives significant attention. We can learn from them how to turn scientific knowledge into products and technologies,’ he noted.

The Order of the Rising Sun is one of Japan’s most prestigious state honours, awarded for significant contributions to international relations and cooperation.