Dr. Francis Collins is a physician and geneticist known for his landmark discoveries of disease genes, leading the Human Genome Project, his 12 years as Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and championing the harmony of science and faith.
Collins is one of the best-known scientists of the current era. Early in his research career, he co-led teams that discovered the genetic cause of cystic fibrosis, neurofibromatosis, and Huntington disease. With him at the helm from 1993 to 2003, the International Human Genome Project produced a finished sequence of human DNA. He then utilized this data to help create powerful tools and strategies to advance biological knowledge about humans and improve their health.
Collins received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Virginia, a doctorate in physical chemistry from Yale University, and a medical degree from The University of North Carolina. He is an elected member of both the National Academy of Medicine and the National Academy of Sciences, was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in November 2007, and received the National Medal of Science in 2009. In 2020, he was elected as a Foreign Member of the Royal Society (UK) and was also named the 50th winner of the Templeton Prize, which celebrates scientific and spiritual curiosity.