2002 RELL SUNN AWARDEE
Dr. Craig Venter is a pioneer in scientific research and true giver of his expertise and energy to making a difference in human health at its most intricate levels. He has spent much of his professional life unraveling the mysteries of DNA and genomes, research with revolutionary potential in the treatment of cancer and other life-threatening diseases. The roots of his dedication can be traced back to his personal experiences more than thirty years ago. Dr. Venter served in the Vietnam War as a medical corpsman from 1967 to 1968. This life-altering time strengthened his resolve to pursue his education and to make a difference in the world. After his tour of duty, he returned to California and earned a B.A. in biochemistry in 1972 and a Ph.D. in Physiology and Pharmacology in 1975, both from UCSD. During his time as a UCSD Triton, Craig could often be found surfing the waves of La Jolla and enjoying the local beaches. Upon graduating, he found a teaching position at the State University of New York at Buffalo and later at the Roswell Park Cancer Institute. In short time, Dr. Venter became a researcher at the National Institutes of Health, serving first as a Section Chief and then as a Lab Chief in the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke - where he developed Expressed Sequence Tags, or ESTs, a revolutionary new strategy for gene discovery. In 1992, he and his wife, Dr. Claire Fraser, founded The Institute for Genomic Research, known as TIGR, where he served as President and Chief Scientific Officer until 1998. Dr. Venter and his team at TIGR decoded the genome of the bacterium Haemophilus influenzae, making it the first free-living organism to have its full DNA deciphered and, to date, have sequenced over 25 genomes. In 1998, he founded Celera Genomics as a means to test the whole genome shotgun technique, new mathematical algorithms, as well as new automated DNA sequencing machines. The experiment quickly proved successful with the sequencing of the fruit fly and led Craig to announce that the company would decode the human genome faster and more cheaply than a publicly funded consortium of scientists. Through his leadership as Chairman of the Board of The Institute for Genomic Research and as a founder and former President of Celera Genomics, Dr. Venter has played a leading and vital role in genomics. His accomplishments in decoding the genetic sequences of other organisms have also provided important scientific insights, including a new understanding of the genetic relationship between species. He has published more than 220 research articles and is among the most frequently cited scientists in biology and medicine. Dr. Venter is the president of three newly formed not-for-profit organizations, The Center for the Advancement of Genomics, the Institute for Biological Energy Alternatives, and the J. Craig Venter Science Foundation. The Center will explore social and ethical issues in genomics while also promoting public understanding of the human genome and crusading against genetic discrimination through education and research. Meanwhile, the Institute will seek biological solutions to global warming - another strong (though little known) interest of Venter's. For his life-long dedication to advancing scientific discovery, his groundbreaking biological discoveries Mahalo Craig!
Thank you to our 2008 or 2009 Luau & Longboard Invitational’s title sponsor, Pfizer La Jolla. |
