ALT Overview of the Orexin Peptide System and Its Role in Narcolepsy. Panel A shows the orexin system, which consists of two neuropeptides produced in the lateral hypothalamus and two G-protein–coupled receptors expressed in most areas of the brain. Projections in a midsagittal schematic of the rodent brain are depicted. Panel B shows deficiency of orexin signaling leading to narcolepsy symptoms in both dogs and rodents. Panel C shows that human patients with narcolepsy lack orexin peptides in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), which has led to a reliable diagnostic test. The deficiency is caused by an autoimmune pathogenetic mechanism that has not yet been fully elucidated. As shown in Panel D, the first dual orexin receptor antagonist was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2014 for the treatment of insomnia.

ALT Panels A, B, and C summarize the key features of the nonclinical discovery research and clinical use of emicizumab, a humanized bispecific monoclonal antibody. After its engineering and improvement, emicizumab (originally called ACE910) was developed for subcutaneous prophylaxis with dose administration every week, every 2 weeks, or every 4 weeks. Panel D illustrates the mechanism of action of emicizumab, which simultaneously binds activated factor IX (factor IXa) and factor X, functionally replacing the cofactor activity of factor VIIIa. By bridging factor IXa and factor X, emicizumab promotes activation of factor X, which results in thrombin generation and restoration of effective hemostasis.

ALT Lasker graphic in dark blue featuring a portrait of Theodore Puck, honored for pioneering methods in culturing living mammalian cells for research in nutrition, growth, genetics, and mutation, set against a transparent image of mammalian cells under the microscope in red, green, and blue.

ALT A Lasker graphic in light blue-grey featuring a portrait of André Cournand, Lasker Laureate recognized for advances in heart disease diagnosis and treatment, set against a transparent scan of the chest of a heart disease patient.

ALT Group portrait of nine professionals, including the six 2026 Lasker Award winners, posing at the Lasker Foundation Awards Acceptance Event on Thursday, September 17 with branded backdrop.

ALT Clinical Medical Research Award winners Takehisa Kitazawa, Kunihiro Hattori, and Tomoyuki Igawa in suits smiling and joining hands at the Lasker Foundation Awards Luncheon event with branded backdrop.

ALT Mayor Michael Bloomberg, recipient of the 2009 Public Service Award and Michael J. Fox, recipient of the 2026 Public Service Award, standing indoors and smiling at the Lasker Awards Luncheon event.

ALT Five Lasker Video Contest winners, Sai Krishna Bhamidipati, Dimitri Seneviratne, Max Bucklan, Colette Benko, and Lindsey Ramirez, posing in an elegant room with ornate walls and a chandelier at the Lasker Awards Luncheon event, smiling at the camera.

ALT Lasker graphic in dark blue featuring a portrait of Cyril A. Clark, Lasker Laureate recognized for research on RH factor genetics and newborn hemolytic disease, alongside a photo of a newborn baby wrapped in a blanket.

ALT A black and white portrait of scientist Charles Huggins, with short hair wearing a white coat and tie, looking directly at the camera.

ALT “I accept this award on behalf of the millions who are helping make the seemingly impossible inevitable. Please join us.” [Michael J. Fox seated in a black suit and a blue tie delivering his 2026 Lasker Award acceptance speech with a quote about collective effort in medical progress.]