Francis Collins, Human Genome Project Leader, Will Be U.Va.S
5, 2001-- Dr. Francis S. Collins, the physician-geneticist
who heads the international Human Genome Project, will be the commencement
speaker at the University of Virginias Final Exercises on
Sunday, May 20, President John T. Casteen III announced.
1970 graduate of the University and director of the National Institute
of Healths National Human Genome Research Institute, Collins
oversees the 13-year, publicly funded research effort to map and
sequence all of the human DNA genetic code, a project called the
most important scientific undertaking of our era. Its aim is to
help understand the basis of genetic diseases and gain insight into
for completion in 2003, ahead of its original schedule, the international
scientific effort has already produced a draft human genome, or
map to the human organisms genes and DNA, that promises to
have profound implications for medical and drug research.
on a small farm near Staunton and home-schooled until the sixth
grade, Collins entered U.Va. at 16 and received his undergraduate
degree in chemistry. He earned his Ph.D. in chemistry at Yale and
then, sensing a revolution was under way in molecular biology and
genetics, enrolled in medical school at the University of North
in medical genetics and identification of disease genes, he joined
the faculty at the University of Michigan in 1984. His ideas and
approaches led to the development of powerful scientific tools for
identifying genetic abnormalities.
1989 his strategies led to identifying the gene for cystic fibrosis
and to further successful collaborations in identifying other disease
genes. In 1993, became the second director of the National Center
for Human Genome Research, following James Watson, co-discoverer
of the structure of DNA.
accomplishments have garnered numerous honors, including his election
to the Institute of Medicine and National Academy of Sciences. Earlier
this month he was named a Virginia Outstanding Scientist of the
Year by the Science Museum of Virginia. The museum will formally
award the honor at a ceremony later this spring.
Bob Brickhouse, (804) 924-6858