Exceptional Opportunities and Challenges for Biomedical Research
Mar
5
2026
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Francis Collins -
Olivia Aldridge
Mar
5
2026
-
Francis Collins
-
Olivia Aldridge
Description
Francis Collins – the physician and geneticist who led the Human Genome Project and the National Institutes of Health – will deliver the 2026 Joe Thorne Gilbert Lecture.
Join a conversation spanning from advancing the frontiers of biomedical research to how each one of us has a stake in today’s research enterprise. Collins will highlight groundbreaking new developments in gene therapy, neuroscience and cancer research.
Focusing on themes of truth, science, trust and faith as he does in his 2024 book The Road to Wisdom, Collins will speak from his experiences — with patients in the clinic, with scientists in the research lab and with world leaders defining our ecosystem for future discoveries — offering compelling insights about how we, as a society, can better deliver on the promise of tomorrow’s breakthroughs.
About the Speakers
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Francis Collins
Physician, Scientist and Author
Dr. Francis Collins is a physician-geneticist known for leading the Human Genome Project, directing the National Institutes of Health for 12 years, and advancing landmark discoveries of disease genes. Early ...
Dr. Francis Collins is a physician-geneticist known for leading the Human Genome Project, directing the National Institutes of Health for 12 years, and advancing landmark discoveries of disease genes. Early in his research career, he co-led teams that discovered the genetic cause of cystic fibrosis, neurofibromatosis and Huntington's disease. With him at the helm from 1993 - 2003, the International Human Genome Project produced a finished sequence of human DNA. He then used this new data to help create powerful tools and strategies to advance biological knowledge about humans and improve their health. Along with his research, Collins has also stressed the importance of considering the ethical and legal issues surrounding genetics. His leadership at NIH spanned three presidencies and guided major initiatives in areas such as diabetes, Alzheimer’s, cancer, precision medicine and the COVID-19 response. After serving as Acting Science Advisor to the president, he returned to his NIH lab to study genetic factors in diabetes and aging before retiring in 2025.
A prominent voice on the relationship between science and faith, Collins wrote the bestselling book “The Language of God” and founded the BioLogos Foundation to foster dialogue on these topics. Collins received a B.S. from the University of Virginia, a doctorate in physical chemistry from Yale University and a medical degree from The University of North Carolina. He is an elected member of both the National Academy of Medicine and the National Academy of Sciences, was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in November 2007, and received the National Medal of Science in 2009. In 2020, he was elected as a Foreign Member of the Royal Society (UK) and was also named the 50th winner of the Templeton Prize, which celebrates scientific and spiritual curiosity. In addition to his book on science and faith, Collins has authored a book on personalized medicine, The Language of Life, published by HarperCollins in January 2010. His most recent book is “The Road to Wisdom: On Truth, Science, Faith and Trust,” published in 2024.
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Olivia Aldridge
Senior Health Care Reporter
KUT News
Olivia Aldridge is the senior health reporter at KUT, Austin’s NPR station. Her work frequently appears on national NPR programs and shows. She has previously reported for South Carolina Public ...
Olivia Aldridge is the senior health reporter at KUT, Austin’s NPR station. Her work frequently appears on national NPR programs and shows. She has previously reported for South Carolina Public Radio and the hyperlocal publication Community Impact, and her byline has also appeared in the New York Times.
Location
Engineering Education and Research Center
James J. and Miriam B. Mulva Auditorium, Room .0904
2501 Speedway
Parking: San Jacinto Garage