Everyone knows the University draws some of the best and brightest students from across the country, and many alumni go on to achieve great things. One need only watch Tina Fey on "30 Rock" or recall Tiki Barber's impressive NFL career to appreciate the success of University graduates. Few individuals, however, can compare with 1970 graduate Francis Collins. Last month, Collins received the highest civil honor in the United States, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, for his work on the Human Genome Project.
A native of Staunton, Va., Collins enrolled at the University in 1966, when he was just 16.
"It was a great gift to be surrounded by such thoughtful teachers and students," he said.
Collins studied chemistry, working as a research assistant under current Chemistry Prof. Carl Trindle
"As a research student, Collins was supremely quick and independent, always cheerful, even gleeful in his work," Trindle remembered, noting "it was obvious that he had all the qualities that make for a distinguished career in science."
Collins graduated in 1970 and continued on to Yale, where he received his doctorate in chemistry in 1974 before pursuing an M.D. at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill.
In 1993, Collins accepted the position of director of the National Human Genome Research Institute, leading the International Human Genome Project in its work to map and understand all human genes.
Collins described his position as the "project manager or field marshal" of the 13-year effort. The first draft of the IHGP was published in February 2001, and the project was successfully completed in 2003.
"When I first started, none of [the scientists] were confident we could complete the project in the time specified," Collins said.
As time went on, however, project workers realized they would succeed not only ahead of schedule but under budget.
"It was a very satisfying day in April 2003 when we could finally say, 'We did it!'" Collins remembered.
According to the NHGRI, the project's completion "has given the world a resource of detailed information about the structure, organization and function of the complete set of human genes."
One of the project's surprising revelations was the number of human genes; the IHGP revealed there are 30,000 to 40,000 human genes -- a number significantly lower than earlier estimates. Trindle noted such findings of the IHGP will lead to significant medical advances.
"The thing [the IHGP] promises to do -- to define individualized therapy based on genetic predispositions -- may revolutionize medicine," Trindle said.
Collins said his current research builds on the foundation of the IHGP to make discoveries in the field of medicine. Some advances based on Collins' research have already been made in relation to diabetes, cancer and heart disease.
"The consequences [for medicine] are going to be profound," he said.
As director of the HGP, Collins' role did not go unnoticed; President Bush presented Collins with the Medal of Freedom Nov. 5 in Washington, D.C.
The Medal of Freedom was established by President Truman in 1945 and expanded by President Kennedy in 1963 to recognize contributions to national security, world peace and freedom and cultural endeavors. This year, eight Americans received the honor? for their contributions to various fields.
"Each of them, by effort and by character, has earned the respect of the American people and holds a unique place in the story of our time," Bush said at the ceremony.
When presenting Collins with his medal, Bush described him as "the man who led the federal project to full and thrilling success."
Collins said being nominated to receive the medal was a complete surprise and described the presentation ceremony as humbling.
"I really considered myself to be there representing the thousands of scientists who had worked on this project, and I accepted the award on their behalf," he said.
Despite his growing prominence, Collins remains involved with the University. He remembers that much of what he learned about the scientific community took place here at the University. noting that he "greatly benefitted by [his first] experience to sink his teeth into science."
In 2001, he spoke at the University's graduation ceremony, recalling his speech to nearly 30,000 people as "an experience I'll never forget." Collins also helped Trindle and Public Health Prof. Bill Knaus? develop a seminar about race, health care and genomics that will be offered this spring and he will address the Jefferson Society in March.
Jefferson Society Vice President Amro Naddy expressed enthusiasm for the lecture.
"Collins' visit will represent the height of stature for visitors from the [field of] science," he said.
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