Collins named to lead NIH

Francis S. Collins, M.D., Ph.D. ’72, FW ’84, was appointed head of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in August, and in October was named one of nine recipients of the National Medal of Science.

Collins is best known for leading the Human Genome Project and for his discoveries of disease genes. In June 2000 a draft of the human genome was announced and an initial analysis was published in 2001.

The National Medal of Science was created in 1959 and is administered for the White House by the National Science Foundation. Awarded annually, the medal recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to science and engineering. The medal, along with the Medal of Technology, is among the highest federal government honor given to scientists, engineers, and inventors. Collins and the other honorees received their awards from President Barack Obama at a White House ceremony in October.