Leroy Hood

Bio

Dr Hood's research has focused on the study of molecular immunology, biotechnology, and genomics. His professional career began at Caltech where he and his colleagues pioneered four instruments — the DNA gene sequencer and synthesizer, and the protein synthesizer and sequencer — which comprise the technological foundation for contemporary molecular biology. In particular, the DNA sequencer has revolutionized genomics by allowing the rapid automated sequencing of DNA, which played a crucial role in contributing to the successful mapping of the human genome during the 1990s. In 1992, Dr Hood moved to the University of Washington as founder and Chairman of the cross-disciplinary Department of Molecular Biotechnology. In 2000, he co-founded the Institute for Systems Biology in Seattle, Washington to pioneer systems approaches to biology and medicine. Most recently, Dr Hood's lifelong contributions to biotechnology have earned him the prestigious 2004 Biotechnology Heritage Award, and for his pioneering efforts in molecular diagnostics the 2003 Association for Molecular Pathology (AMP) Award for Excellence in Molecular Diagnostics. In 2006 he received the Heinz Award in Technology, the Economy and Employment for his extraordinary breakthroughs in biomedical science at the genetic level. In 2007 he was elected to the Inventors Hall of Fame (for the automated DNA sequencer). He has published more than 600 peer-reviewed papers, received 14 patents, and has co-authored textbooks in biochemistry, immunology, molecular biology, and genetics and is just finishing a text book on systems biology. In addition, he coauthored with Dan Keveles a popular book on the human genome project-The Code of Codes.