2012 Keynote Speaker

Local Seattle Pioneer in Systems Biology will be World Congress Keynote Speaker

2012 Keynote Speaker, 
Leroy E. Hood MD, PhD

The Society for In Vitro Biology is pleased to announce that Dr. Leroy E. Hood (MD, PhD) will provide the keynote address at the 2012 World Congress on In Vitro Biology (June 3-7, 2012) in Bellevue, Washington.  Dr. Hood received a BS degree from the California Institute of Technology, an MD degree from The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, and a PhD in Biochemistry from the California Institute of Technology.  In addition, he has received 17 honorary degrees from prestigious Universities in the USA and abroad.

Dr. Hood’s research has focused on the study of molecular immunology, biotechnology, and genomics.  His professional career began at Caltech where he and his colleagues pioneered four instruments—the DNA gene sequencer and synthesizer, and the protein synthesizer and sequencer—which comprise the technological foundation for contemporary molecular biology.  In particular, the DNA sequencer has revolutionized genomics by allowing the rapid automated sequencing of DNA, which played a crucial role in contributing to the successful mapping of the human genome during the 1990s.

In 1992, Dr. Hood moved to the University of Washington as founder and Chairman of the cross-disciplinary Department of Molecular Biotechnology.  In 2000, he co-founded the Institute for Systems Biology in Seattle, Washington to pioneer systems approaches to biology and medicine.  The Institute for Systems Biology (ISB) was established to address the greatest challenge of 21st-century science — understanding biological complexity. Since its founding in 2000, ISB has been a pioneering source of new knowledge, innovative technologies and computational tools, and creative ways of understanding, conducting and communicating science. ISB is catalyzing fundamental paradigm changes in how the life sciences and medicine are practiced globally. Researchers at ISB are generating results that can be applied to some of society’s most perplexing problems in medicine, global health and the environment. They are creating productive strategic partnerships with universities, companies and governments around the world, which are essential to attacking these challenges in a trans-disciplinary manner. An independent, non-profit organization poised between academia and industry, ISB is deeply committed to discovering knowledge and translating its benefits to society. ISB commercializes its discoveries; advances science education; helps society better understand the impacts of science and technology; and creates exciting new organizations that facilitate these transfers.

Most recently, Dr. Hood was elected to the Inventors Hall of Fame for the automated DNA sequencer. In addition, his lifelong contributions to biotechnology have earned him the 2006 Heinz Award in Technology, the Economy and Employment for his extraordinary breakthroughs in biomedical science at the genetic level; the prestigious 2004 Biotechnology Heritage Award; the esteemed 2003 Association for Molecular Pathology (AMP) Award for Excellence in Molecular Diagnostics; and the 2003 Lemelson–MIT Prize for Innovation and Invention.  He was also awarded the 2002 Kyoto Prize in Advanced Technology, and the 1987 Lasker Prize for his studies on the mechanism of immune diversity.  More recently he received the NAE’s Russ Prize for developing the automated DNA sequencer that revolutionized genomics and medicine.

He has published more than 650 peer-reviewed papers, received 14 patents, and has co-authored textbooks in biochemistry, immunology, molecular biology, and genetics. Dr. Hood is a member of the National Academy of Sciences, the American Philosophical Society, the American Association of Arts and Sciences, the Institute of Medicine and the National Academy of Engineering. He is one of seven (of more than 6,000 members) scientists elected to all three academies (NAS, NAE and IOM).  Dr. Hood has also played a role in founding more than 14 biotechnology companies, including Amgen, Applied Biosystems, Systemix, Darwin, Rosetta, and the newly formed Hood diagnostic company, Integrated Diagnostics.  He is currently pioneering systems medicine and the systems approach to disease.