Muhlenberg College is proud to celebrate the extraordinary achievements of alumnus Leonard Zon, M.D. ’79, who has been awarded the 2026 March of Dimes Richard B. Johnston Jr., MD Prize in Developmental Biology.
A world-renowned hematologist, stem cell scientist, and developmental biologist, Zon currently serves as the Grousbeck Professor of Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School and a professor of stem cell and regenerative biology at Harvard University. This latest honor recognizes his decades of leadership in illuminating the complexities of how blood develops in embryos — research that has fundamentally changed the landscape of pediatric medicine.
A Pioneer in the Lab
Zon is perhaps best known as the pioneer who introduced the use of zebrafish as a primary model for studying human disease. By utilizing these unique organisms, Zon and his team at Boston Children’s Hospital have been able to observe the real-time development of blood and the progression of cancers with unprecedented clarity.
His innovative approach has led to:
- New Treatments: The development of novel therapies for genetic blood disorders that affect infants and children.
- Breakthroughs in Pregnancy Research: A deeper understanding of rare blood diseases, including those that manifest during pregnancy, ensuring healthier outcomes for mothers and babies.
- Cancer Research: Critical insights into the cellular origins of blood-based cancers and potential pathways for regenerative medicine.
The Foundation of Excellence
Before becoming a titan of Harvard’s medical community, Zon began his scientific journey as a Muhlenberg College chemistry major, where he developed a taste for research. His career embodies the core mission of the Muhlenberg experience: using a rigorous liberal arts foundation to pursue transformative discoveries that advance the common good.
The March of Dimes Prize is awarded annually to outstanding scientists who have significantly advanced the field of developmental biology. In receiving this award, Zon joins an elite group of researchers dedicated to uncovering the biological secrets that lead to birth defects and childhood diseases.
The Muhlenberg community congratulates Zon on this well-deserved honor and thanks him for his tireless dedication to the future of medicine. His commitment to healing the most vulnerable members of our society — infants and children — is a testament to the legacy of excellence our alumni carry into the world.
