Prof. Eric S. Lander
Professor of Biology; Professor of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School; Founding Director, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard - Photo Credit: Casey Atkins Photography, courtesy of Broad Institute
A geneticist, molecular biologist, and mathematician, he has played a pioneering role in all aspects of the reading, understanding, and biomedical application of the human genome. Over his career, he has developed powerful methods for discovering the molecular basis of human diseases. Among them were the first methods for mapping the genes underlying polygenic disorders, such as heart disease, diabetes, schizophrenia, and Alzheimer's disease.
A professor of biology at MIT and professor of systems biology at Harvard Medical School, he served from 2009 to 2017 as co-chair of the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology for President Barack Obama.
Lander’s honors and awards include the MacArthur Fellowship, the Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences, the Albany Prize in Medicine and Biological Research, the Gairdner Foundation International Award of Canada, the Dan David Prize of Israel, the Mendel Medal of the Genetics Society in the UK, the City of Medicine Award, the Abelson Prize from the AAAS, the Award for Public Understanding of Science and Technology from the AAAS, the Woodrow Wilson Prize for Public Service from Princeton University, the James R. Killian Jr. Faculty Achievement Award from MIT, and the William Allan Award from the American Society of Human Genetics.