World's leading genomics scientists, Brenner, Lander and Venter, receive Novartis Drew University award
Three of the world's best-known genome researchers will be awarded the 25th Annual Novartis Drew University Award in Biomedical Research. The recipients – Sydney Brenner, Eric Lander and Craig Venter – pioneered new directions for genomics research and their work has led to the recent publication of the first working draft of the human genome sequence.
The awards will be presented during a symposium to be broadcast live on the internet at http://www.novartis.com on Tuesday 27 November 2001 from 13.30 to 17.30 EDT (19.30 to 23.30 CET - a playback facility will also be available). During the symposium, each recipient will address the future of genome research:
Dr Sydney Brenner, Distinguished Research Professor, The Salk Institute, La Jolla, California will speak on: "The New Genetics: The Place of Genome Sequencing in the Analysis of Gene Function in Higher Organisms".
Dr Brenner's early research was in molecular genetics; he discovered messenger RNA (with Jacob and Meselson) and, with Francis Crick, he showed that the genetic code was composed of triplets. In the 1960s, he changed directions and established C. elegans, a nematode, as a powerful experimental system for the analysis of complex biological processes. As a geneticist, Sydney Brenner saw that the techniques of cloning and sequencing would open up new ways of approaching genetics and he turned to studying vertebrate genomics.
Dr Eric S. Lander, Director Whitehead Institute/MIT Center for Genome Research, will speak on: "The Human Genome and Beyond". Dr Lander has been one of the principal leaders of the Human Genome Project. Under his leadership, the Center for Genome Research has been responsible for developing many of the key tools of modern mammalian genomics. He has also pioneered many of the novel applications of genetics and genomics to biomedical research including the nature of human genetic polymorphisms and their affects on disease processes.
Dr J. Craig Venter, President Celera Genomics Corporation, will speak on: "Sequencing the Human Genome". Dr Venter's team at Celera sequenced the human, mouse and fruit fly genomes. He developed a new approach to automated DNA sequencing that enabled rapid gene discovery. Dr Venter's team was first to sequence and publish the complete genome sequence of a free-living organism. His overall approach has now become the standard in genome sequencing programs.
The Novartis Drew Award in Biomedical Research was established in 1977 through the joint sponsorship of the Pharmaceuticals Division of CIBA-Geigy Corporation and Drew University. The purpose of the symposium and award is: to recognize top quality research that extends biomedical knowledge into new areas; to provide intellectual stimulation for students, teachers and researchers in biology, chemistry and medicine; and to provide a meeting of highest scientific quality and interest in New Jersey.
The mapping of the human genome has vastly increased the number of potential targets for drug interaction from 500 to more than 10 000. Novartis is establishing new units, including the Drug Discovery Centre, focused on specific gene and protein families and searching for 'drugable' targets that provide the potential for therapeutic intervention. The company's Functional Genomics and Disease network is working on identifying more causal preventative, safer therapies and new kinds of treatments based on common biological mechanisms that cause diverse disease symptoms.
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