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Human Genome News, July 1991; 3(2)
Leading the NIH National Center for Human Genome Research (NCHGR) search for new technologies is Robert L. Strausberg. Strausberg's recent selection for this critical staff position ended a nationwide search for a candidate with a broad perspective based on experience in both academia and the biotechnology industry. His task is to champion promising research proposals and to coordinate the burgeoning NCHGR technology development program.
As Director James D. Watson's Assistant for Technology Development, he will ensure that the need for rapid large-scale mapping and sequencing technology development is addressed. Strausberg will act as an advocate for researchers with unique and exciting ideas for new technologies and will foster the integration of these technologies into the NCHGR overall research plan.
In his additional role as Director of the Technology Development Program, Strausberg will be responsible for the management of grants to develop cost-effective large-scale DNA sequencing, focusing on reducing the cost. He will encourage multidisciplinary collaboration within large research projects and organize workshops and working groups for those interested in particular areas of technology development.
Strausberg also anticipates advising university and industry researchers about how to participate in the Human Genome Project. He plans to make a concerted effort to elicit suggestions from individuals on ways NCHGR can be more helpful in facilitating their research efforts. "Even if they currently have no background data, no track record, etc., I'm still eager to talk with those researchers who have novel ideas for large-scale sequencing and mapping. NCHGR wants to encourage innovation and fund projects with potential," he stated.
Strausberg received his Ph.D. in developmental biology from Ohio State in 1976 and later held a postdoctoral fellowship in biochemistry at Southwestern Medical School in Dallas. After serving as Assistant Professor of Biology at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, where his research focused on yeast molecular biology, Strausberg joined Genex Corporation. At Genex his research group was responsible for DNA sequencing and synthesis, cDNA and genomic cloning, and expression of foreign genes in yeast and Escherichia coli.
HGMIS Staff
The electronic form of the newsletter may be cited in the following style:
Human Genome Program, U.S. Department of Energy, Human Genome News (v3n2).
The Human Genome Project (HGP) was an international 13-year effort, 1990 to 2003. Primary goals were to discover the complete set of human genes and make them accessible for further biological study, and determine the complete sequence of DNA bases in the human genome. See Timeline for more HGP history.
Published from 1989 until 2002, this newsletter facilitated HGP communication, helped prevent duplication of research effort, and informed persons interested in genome research.
