Francis Collins, MD, PhD

Francis S. Collins, MD, PhD, is a physician-geneticist noted for his landmark discoveries of disease genes, his leadership of the international Human Genome Project, and his service for 12 years as the director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). 

• The longest serving Presidentially-appointed director of NIH, overseeing the work of the largest supporter of biomedical research in the world, from basic to clinical research.
• His research laboratory has discovered a number of important genes, including those responsible for cystic fibrosis, neurofibromatosis, Huntington’s disease, a familial endocrine cancer syndrome, and most recently, genes for type 2 diabetes, and the gene that causes Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome, a rare condition that causes premature aging. 
• Elected member of the National Academy of Medicine and the National Academy of Sciences. 
• Awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the National Medal of Science, and the Templeton Prize.