Renowned biologist J. Craig Venter will deliver the Plenary Opening Lecture, “Life at the Speed of Light,” at the SOT 2015 Annual Meeting on Monday, March 23, 8:00 am–9:00 am in San Diego, California. He is known for his contributions in sequencing the first draft human genome in 2001, the first complete diploid human genome in 2007, and construction of the first synthetic bacterial cell in 2010.
“Dr. Venter is a leading visionary and researcher in the field of genomics, and we are honored that he will be speaking at our 54th Annual Meeting,” said SOT Peter Goering, 2014–2015 Vice President and Scientific Program Committee Chair. “His work in genomics represents a solid foundation upon which toxicologists can develop better research into how different drug and chemical exposures impact human health.”
He is founder, chairman and CEO of the J. Craig Venter Institute (JCVI); founder and CEO of the company Synthetic Genomics Inc (SGI), and co-founder and CEO of Human Longevity Inc (HLI). Dr. Venter and his teams are focused on a variety of projects and programs, including synthetic genomic research and the application of these advances to develop new biofuels, vaccines, and food and nutritional products; continued analysis of the human genome, including the human microbiome; and discovering and understanding genetic diversity in the world’s oceans.
Dr. Venter is one of the most frequently cited scientists and the author of more than 250 research articles. He also is the recipient of numerous honorary degrees, public honors, and scientific awards, including the 2008 United States National Medal of Science, the 2002 Gairdner Foundation International Award, the 2001 Paul Ehrlich and Ludwig Darmstaedter Prize, and the King Faisal International Award for Science. He is a member of numerous prestigious scientific organizations, including the National Academy of Sciences, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and the American Society for Microbiology. Moreover, he is the author of Life at the Speed of Light: From the Double Helix to the Dawn of Digital Life (Viking, 2013) and A Life Decoded: My Genome: My Life (Viking, 2007).