Dr. Francis Collins, Dr. J. Craig Venter and Naomi Judd - Featured Speakers for BIO 2001
Two pioneering names in genomics – J. Craig Venter, PhD, andFrancis B. Collins, MD, PhD, will address conference attendees at the 7 a.m. plenary session on Wednesday, June 27.
Venter, president and chief scientific officer of Celera Genomics Corporation, published a manuscript on the sequencing of the human genome in the February 2001 issue of Science magazine. He has published more than 160 research articles and is one of the most cited scientists in biology and medicine. Before this groundbreaking success, Venter developed expressed sequence tags, a new strategy for gene discovery that has revolutionized the biological sciences. At Celera, Venter is helping build the expertise and information that will enable scientists to transform the way in which health problems are diagnosed and treated.
As director of the National Human Genome Research Institute of the National Institutes of Health, Collins provides overall leadership and develops scientific, fiscal and management strategies for the office that oversees research to accomplish the mission of the Human Genome Project. Collins has published 299articles in peer-reviewed scientific journals ranging from the Journal of the American Medical Association to Science magazine, and including the 2001 Nature magazine article entitled “Initial Sequencing and Analysis of the Human Genome.”
Naomi Judd, a name synonymous with music history and entertainment, is the BIO 2001 plenary luncheon speaker on Wednesday, June 27. A former nurse, Judd’s entertainment career began when she captured a chance audition while caring for a hospitalized relative of a record producer. Soon after, she was discovered by RCA records, formed the hit recording act The Judds with daughter Wynonna, and the rest, including six Grammy awards, is music history. Judd’s recording career ended after she was diagnosed with a life-threatening liver disease. A beneficiary of biotechnology, Judd continues an active life, and is an exciting addition to BIO 2001.
These speakers reflect the BIO 2001 central theme, “Partneringfor Life,” which celebrates the partnerships that deliver the products of biotechnology to those who need them, and also celebrates the amazing results that occur when great partners come together to support and move toward a common goal.
The BIO 2001 preliminary program and registration information are available at www.bio.org. In addition, members of the media may register online in the “press registration” section of www.bio.org.
BIO represents more than 950 biotechnology companies,academic institutions, state biotechnology centers and related organizations in all 50 U.S. states and 33 other nations. BIO members are involved in the research and development of health care, agricultural, industrial and environmental biotechnology products.
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