Richard K Wilson
Encyclopedia
Richard K. Wilson is an American Professor of Genetics and Professor of Molecular Microbiology at Washington University in St. Louis
and Director of The Genome Institute. He is an expert in molecular genetics
and large-scale DNA sequence analysis. His laboratory at the Washington University School of Medicine
has sequenced and analyzed billions of bases of DNA
from the genomes of bacteria, yeast, roundworms, plants, vertebrates, primates and humans. He and his colleagues at The Genome Institute sequenced the first animal genome - that of the roundworm Caenorhabditis elegans
- and contributed substantially to the sequencing and analysis of the human genome. More recently, his laboratory was the first to sequence the genome of a cancer patient and discover genetic signatures relevant to the pathogenesis of the disease.
Building upon this achievement, Dr. Wilson's laboratory has sequenced the genomes of several hundred patients in an effort to discover clues that will facilitate more effective diagnosis and treatment of cancer and other human diseases. This includes participation in the Pediatric Cancer Genome Project and The Cancer Genome Atlas
.
In addition to his position at The Genome Institute, Dr. Wilson is also a Research Member at the Siteman Cancer Center, and a member of their Senior Leadership Committee. He received his B.A. degree from Miami University
in Ohio
in 1981, his Ph.D. from the University of Oklahoma
in 1986 and was a Research Fellow in the Division of Biology at the California Institute of Technology
(1986-1990).
In 2008, Dr. Wilson was elected as a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science
(2008). In 2011, he received the Distinguished Achievement Award from Miami University
, and the Distinguished Alumnus Award from the University of Oklahoma College of Arts and Sciences
.
Washington University in St. Louis
Washington University in St. Louis is a private research university located in suburban St. Louis, Missouri. Founded in 1853, and named for George Washington, the university has students and faculty from all fifty U.S. states and more than 110 nations...
and Director of The Genome Institute. He is an expert in molecular genetics
Molecular genetics
Molecular genetics is the field of biology and genetics that studies the structure and function of genes at a molecular level. The field studies how the genes are transferred from generation to generation. Molecular genetics employs the methods of genetics and molecular biology...
and large-scale DNA sequence analysis. His laboratory at the Washington University School of Medicine
Washington University School of Medicine
Washington University School of Medicine , located in St. Louis, Missouri, is one of the graduate schools of Washington University in St. Louis. One of the top medical schools in the United States, it is currently ranked 4th for research according to U.S. News and World Report and has been listed...
has sequenced and analyzed billions of bases of DNA
DNA
Deoxyribonucleic acid is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms . The DNA segments that carry this genetic information are called genes, but other DNA sequences have structural purposes, or are involved in...
from the genomes of bacteria, yeast, roundworms, plants, vertebrates, primates and humans. He and his colleagues at The Genome Institute sequenced the first animal genome - that of the roundworm Caenorhabditis elegans
Caenorhabditis elegans
Caenorhabditis elegans is a free-living, transparent nematode , about 1 mm in length, which lives in temperate soil environments. Research into the molecular and developmental biology of C. elegans was begun in 1974 by Sydney Brenner and it has since been used extensively as a model...
- and contributed substantially to the sequencing and analysis of the human genome. More recently, his laboratory was the first to sequence the genome of a cancer patient and discover genetic signatures relevant to the pathogenesis of the disease.
Building upon this achievement, Dr. Wilson's laboratory has sequenced the genomes of several hundred patients in an effort to discover clues that will facilitate more effective diagnosis and treatment of cancer and other human diseases. This includes participation in the Pediatric Cancer Genome Project and The Cancer Genome Atlas
The Cancer Genome Atlas
The Cancer Genome Atlas is a project to catalogue genetic mutations responsible for cancer, using genome analysis techniques started in 2005...
.
In addition to his position at The Genome Institute, Dr. Wilson is also a Research Member at the Siteman Cancer Center, and a member of their Senior Leadership Committee. He received his B.A. degree from Miami University
Miami University
Miami University is a coeducational public research university located in Oxford, Ohio, United States. Founded in 1809, it is the 10th oldest public university in the United States and the second oldest university in Ohio, founded four years after Ohio University. In its 2012 edition, U.S...
in Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
in 1981, his Ph.D. from the University of Oklahoma
University of Oklahoma
The University of Oklahoma is a coeducational public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. Founded in 1890, it existed in Oklahoma Territory near Indian Territory for 17 years before the two became the state of Oklahoma. the university had 29,931 students enrolled, most located at its...
in 1986 and was a Research Fellow in the Division of Biology at the California Institute of Technology
California Institute of Technology
The California Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Pasadena, California, United States. Caltech has six academic divisions with strong emphases on science and engineering...
(1986-1990).
In 2008, Dr. Wilson was elected as a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science
American Association for the Advancement of Science
The American Association for the Advancement of Science is an international non-profit organization with the stated goals of promoting cooperation among scientists, defending scientific freedom, encouraging scientific responsibility, and supporting scientific education and science outreach for the...
(2008). In 2011, he received the Distinguished Achievement Award from Miami University
Miami University
Miami University is a coeducational public research university located in Oxford, Ohio, United States. Founded in 1809, it is the 10th oldest public university in the United States and the second oldest university in Ohio, founded four years after Ohio University. In its 2012 edition, U.S...
, and the Distinguished Alumnus Award from the University of Oklahoma College of Arts and Sciences
University of Oklahoma College of Arts and Sciences
The University of Oklahoma College of Arts and Sciences, also known as the College of A&S , is the liberal arts and sciences unit of the University of Oklahoma in Norman, Oklahoma. Established in 1909, the college is currently the largest unit at OU in terms of the number of students enrolled...
.
Awards and honors
- http://www.miamialum.org/s/916/internal.aspx?sid=916&gid=1&pgid=375Distinguished Achievement Award Miami UniversityMiami UniversityMiami University is a coeducational public research university located in Oxford, Ohio, United States. Founded in 1809, it is the 10th oldest public university in the United States and the second oldest university in Ohio, founded four years after Ohio University. In its 2012 edition, U.S...
, 2011] - http://cas.ou.edu/2011-daa-and-dsaDistinguished Alumni Award. University of OklahomaUniversity of OklahomaThe University of Oklahoma is a coeducational public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. Founded in 1890, it existed in Oklahoma Territory near Indian Territory for 17 years before the two became the state of Oklahoma. the university had 29,931 students enrolled, most located at its...
. 2011.] - http://www.genome.gov/10000977Member, National Advisory Council National Human Genome Research InstituteNational Human Genome Research InstituteThe National Human Genome Research Institute is a division of the National Institutes of Health, located in Bethesda, Maryland.NHGRI began as the National Center for Human Genome Research , which was established in 1989 to carry out the role of the NIH in the International Human Genome Project...
, 2010-] - http://www.aaas.org/news/releases/2008/1218fellows.shtmlFellow American Association for the Advancement of ScienceAmerican Association for the Advancement of ScienceThe American Association for the Advancement of Science is an international non-profit organization with the stated goals of promoting cooperation among scientists, defending scientific freedom, encouraging scientific responsibility, and supporting scientific education and science outreach for the...
, 2008] - Career/Life Achievement Award, Kent, Ohio, 2005