Leroy Hood 216048 224225655 2008-07-07T21:53:33Z Nsk92 5119758 reference section created, a reference added '''Leroy Hood''' is an [[United States|American]] [[biologist]]. He won the [[2003]] [[Lemelson-MIT Prize]] for inventing "four instruments that have unlocked much of the mystery of human biology" by helping decode the [[genome]].<ref>[http://web.mit.edu/invent/a-winners/a-hood.html 2003 Lemelson-MIT Prize Winner.][[Lemelson-MIT Program]]. Accessed [[July 07]], [[2008]]</ref> Hood also won the [[2002]] [[Kyoto Prize]] for Advanced Technology, and the [[1987]] [[Albert Lasker Award for Basic Medical Research]]. His inventions include the [[automated DNA sequencer]] and an automated tool for synthesizing DNA. Hood co-founded the [[Institute for Systems Biology]]. ==Biography== Dr. Leroy Hood was born October 10, 1938 in [[Missoula, Montana]]. He is recognized as one of the world's leading scientists in molecular [[biotechnology]] and [[genomics]]. He holds numerous patents and awards for his scientific breakthroughs and prides himself on his life-long commitment to making science accessible and understandable to the general public, especially children. One of this foremost goals is bringing hands-on, inquiry-based science to K-12 classrooms. Hood was also a founding member of Amgen. Dr. Hood earned an M.D. From [[Johns Hopkins University]] in 1964 and a Ph.D. in [[biochemistry]] from the [[California Institute of Technology]] in 1968. Since then, his research has focused on the study of molecular [[immunology]] and [[biotechnology]]. Dr. Hood has published more than 600 peer-reviewed papers, received 14 patents, and co-authored textbooks in biochemistry, immunology, molecular biology, and genetics, and is a member of the [[United States National Academy of Sciences|National Academy of Sciences]], the [[American Philosophical Society]] and the [[American Association of Arts and Sciences]], the [[National Academy of Engineering]] and the [[Institute of Medicine]]. Hood received a D.Sc. from [[Bates College]] in 1999. His professional career began at Caltech where he and his colleagues pioneered four instruments--the automated DNA 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. Dr. Hood was also one of the first advocates of and is a key player in the [[Human Genome Project]]--the quest to decipher the sequence of the human DNA. He also played a pioneering role in deciphering the secrets of [[antibody diversity]]. In 1992, Dr. Hood moved to the [[University of Washington]] to create the cross-disciplinary Department of Molecular Biotechnology. In his role as the [[William Gates, III]] Professor of Biomedical Science, Dr. Hood applied his laboratory expertise in DNA sequencing to the analysis of human and mouse immune receptors and initiated studies in prostate cancer, autoimmunity, and hematopoietic [[stem cell]] development. In 2000, Dr. Hood co-founded the [[Institute for Systems Biology]] in Seattle, Washington to pioneer systems approaches to biology and medicine. He serves as President of the Institute and continues to pursue his interest in biology, medicine, technology, development, and computational biology. Dr. Hood has played a role in founding numerous biotechnology companies, including [[Amgen]], [[Applied Biosystems]], [[Systemix]], [[Darwin Molecular Corporation|Darwin]], [[Rosetta Biosoftware|Rosetta]], and [[MacroGenics]]. Dr. Hood was awarded the 1987 [[Lasker Prize]] for his studies on the mechanism of immune diversity; the [[Association of Biomolecular Resource Facilities]] Award for outstanding contributions to Biomolecular Technologies in 2000; the 2002 [[Kyoto Prize]] in Advanced Technology for technology development; the 2003 [[Lemelson-MIT Prize]] for Innovation and Invention for the development of the DNA sequencer; the 2006 Heinz Award for his extraordinary breakthroughs in biomedical science; and the 2006 [[Wharton Infosys Business Transformation Award]] for his society-transforming use of information technology. In 2007 he was inducted into the [[National Inventors Hall of Fame]]. ==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== * [http://www.systemsbiology.org/download/2002Kyoto.pdf My Life and Adventures Integrating Biology and Technology] Commemorative lecture given when awarded the [[2002]] [[Kyoto Prize in Advanced Technologies]]. *[http://www.systemsbiology.org/Scientists_and_Research/Faculty_Groups/Hood_Group/Profile Biography of Leroy Hood] at the website of the [[Institute for Systems Biology]]. *[http://www.rsc.org/Publishing/Journals/cb/Volume/2007/3/InterviewwithLeroyHood.asp Interview with Leroy Hood] on the website of the [[Royal Society of Chemistry]]. {{DEFAULTSORT:Hood, Leroy}} [[Category:1938 births]] [[Category:Johns Hopkins University alumni]] [[Category:Members of the National Academy of Sciences]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:American biologists]] [[Category:American geneticists]] [[Category:University of Washington faculty]] [[Category:Lemelson-MIT Prize]] [[Category:People from Missoula, Montana]] [[Category:California Institute of Technology alumni]] [[Category:Systems biologists]]