Eric Lander

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Eric Lander
Eric Lander
Born	February 3, 1957
Institutions	Broad Institute Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Alma mater	Stuyvesant High School Oxford University Princeton University

Eric Steven Lander (born February 3, 1957) is a Professor of Biology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), a member of the Whitehead Institute, and director of the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard who has devoted his career toward realizing the promise of the human genome for medicine. He is co-chair of President Obama's council of science and technology advisers

He was captain of the math Team at Stuyvesant High School, graduating in 1974^[1] and then attended Princeton University, where he graduated valedictorian. At the age of seventeen, he wrote a paper on quasiperfect numbers for which he won the Westinghouse Prize. He wrote his doctorate on symmetric designs at Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar, under the supervision of Peter Cameron. As a Mathematician he studied combinatorics and applications of group representational theory to coding theory. He enjoyed mathematics but did not wish to spend his life in such a "monastic career." Unsure of what to do next, he took up a job teaching managerial economics at Harvard Business School; he also began to write a book on information theory. At the suggestion of his brother, Arthur Lander, he started to look at neurobiology "because there's a lot of information in the brain". In order to understand mathematical neurobiology, he felt he had to study cellular neurobiology; this in turn led to studying microbiology and continued down to the level of genetics. "When I finally feel I have learned genetics, I should get back to these other problems. But I'm still trying to get the genetics right".

His studies introduced him to David Botstein, a geneticist working at MIT. Botstein was working on a way to unravel how subtle differences in complex genetic systems can become disorders like cancer, diabetes, schizophrenia, and even obesity. Lander then joined Whitehead Institute (1986) and later joined MIT as a geneticist. In 1987, he was given the prestigious MacArthur Fellowship. In 1990 he founded the WICGR (Whitehead Institute/MIT Center for Genome Research). WICGR became one of the world's leading centers of genome research, and under Dr. Lander's leadership, it has made great progress in developing new methods of analysing mammalian genomes. The Whitehead Institute has also made important breakthroughs in applying this information to the study of human variation and particularly the study of medical genetics. The WICGR formed the basis for the foundation of the Broad Institute, a transformation in which Dr. Lander was instrumental.

In December 2008, he was named, along with Harold E. Varmus, one of co-chairs of the Council of Advisors on Science and Technology in the Obama administration.

Contents 1 Contributions to genomics 2 Beyond genomics 3 Media Appearances 4 See also 5 References 6 External links

[edit] Contributions to genomics

There were two main groups attempting to sequence the human genome: the first was the Human Genome Project, the public funded effort which intended to publish the information obtained freely open for all to use without restrictions. This was a collaborative effort involving many research groups from countries all over the world. The second effort was undertaken by Celera Genomics who intended to patent the information obtained and charge subscriptions for use of the sequence data (Celera has since abandoned this policy and has donated large amounts of sequence information for free public use) The HGP was established first but moved slowly in the early phases of research as the role of the Department of Energy was unclear and sequencing technology was in its infancy. Upon the entrance of Celera into the race to discover the genome, the pressure was on the H.G.P to establish as much of the genome in the public domain as possible. Lander was extremely influential to Francis Collins in the push to produce a "draft" of the genome that could be published at about the same time as the Celera group^{[citation needed]}. This was a change for the HGP, because many scientists at the time wanted a more complete copy of the genome. Along with other members of the HGP, Lander pushed for quicker discovery so that genes would not be discovered by Celera first.

The public draft of the human genome was published in 2001 in the journal Nature. The Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Center for Genome Research, is listed first (the order was according to total genomic sequence contributed) and Lander is the first author named ^[2]. The WICGR has also made a leading contribution to the sequencing of the mouse genome. Aside from academic interest this is an important step in fully understanding the molecular biology of mice which are often used as model organisms in studies of everything from human diseases to embryonic development. Increased understanding of mice will thus facilitate many areas of research. The WICGR has also sequenced the genomes of Ciona savignyi,^[3] the pufferfish,^[4] the filamentous fungus Neurospora crassa^[5] and multiple relatives of Saccharomyces cerevisiae,^[6] one of the most studied yeasts. The Ciona savignyi genome provides a good system for exploring the evolutionary origins of all vertebrates. Pufferfish have smaller sized genomes compared to other vertebrates; as a result their genomes are "mini" models for vertebrates. The sequencing of the yeasts related to Saccharomyces cerevisiae will ease the identification of key gene regulatory elements some of which may be common to all eukaryotes (including both plant and animal kingdoms).

[edit] Beyond genomics

Sequence data is just that: a list of bases found in a given stretch of DNA. Its value lies in the discoveries and new technologies it allows. In Dr. Lander's case one of these applications is the study of disease. He is the founder and director of the Broad Institute, a collaboration between MIT, Harvard, the Whitehead institute and affiliated hospitals. Its goal is "to create tools for genome medicine and make them broadly available to the scientific community; to apply these tools to propel the understanding and treatment of disease". To this end they are studying the variation in the human genome and have led an international effort which has assembled a library of 2.1 million Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) these act as markers or signposts in the genome allowing the identification of disease susceptibility genes. They hope to construct a map of the human genome using blocks of these SNP called Linkage disequilibrium or LD. This map will be of significant help in medical genetics. It will allow researchers to link a given condition to a given gene or set of genes using the LD as a marker. This will allow for improved diagnostic procedures. Lander and his colleagues are hoping the LD map will allow them to test the Common Disease-Common Variant hypothesis which states than many common diseases may be caused by a small number of common alleles, for example 50% of the variance in susceptibility to Alzheimer's disease is explained by the common allele ApoE4. Landers group have recently discovered an important association which accounts for a large proportion of population risk for adult onset diabetes. They are also using family studies to identify the genes involved in many genetic diseases like inflammatory bowel disease^{[citation needed]}.

Lander's most important work may be his development of a molecular taxonomy for cancers. The cancers are grouped according to gene expression and information like their response to chemotherapy is collected for each group. The division of cancers into homogeneous subgroups will allow increased understanding of the molecular origins of these cancers and aid the design of more effective therapies. They have also identified a new type of leukemia called MLL and have identified a gene which may serve as a target for a new drug.

In addition to his research, he has for several years co-taught MIT's required undergraduate introductory biology course (7.012) with Robert Weinberg.

[edit] Media Appearances

Lander was named one of Time magazine's 100 most influential people of our time (2004) for his work on the HGP. Lander has also appeared in numerous PBS documentaries about genetics.

[edit] See also

• Genomics
• Bioinformatics
• Human Genome Project
• Sequencing
• DNA sequencing theory

[edit] References

1. ^ Hopkin, Karen. "Eric S. Lander, Ph.D.". http://www.hhmi.org/biointeractive/genomics/lander.html. Retrieved on 2007-10-31. 
2. ^ http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v409/n6822/full/409860a0.html
3. ^ http://www.broad.mit.edu/annotation/ciona/
4. ^ http://www.broad.mit.edu/annotation/tetraodon/
5. ^ http://www.broad.mit.edu/annotation/fungi/neurospora_crassa_7/index.html
6. ^ http://www.yeastgenome.org/

[edit] External links

• Bio
• Lander at MIT
• Introduction to biology video lectures at MIT
• MIT Broad Institute Bio
• Eric Lander: America's Best Leaders
• An interview with CNN
• Article on Eric Lander
• Video of Lander speaking at MIT

v • d • e Barack Obama's Executive Office of the President Office Name Term Office Name Term White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emmanuel since 2009 National Security Advisor Jim Jones since 2009 White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Mona Sutphen since 2009 Deputy National Security Advisor Thomas E. Donilon since 2009 White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations Jim Messina since 2009 Deputy National Security Advisor for Iraq and Afghanistan Douglas Lute† since 2009 Senior Advisor to the President David Axelrod since 2009 Deputy National Security Advisor for Strategic Communications Denis McDonough since 2009 Senior Advisor to the President Peter Rouse since 2009 Deputy National Security Advisor for Homeland Security John O. Brennan since 2009 Senior Advisor to the President and Assistant to the President for Intergovernmental Affairs and Public Engagement Valerie Jarrett since 2009 White House Communications Director Deputy White House Communications Director Anita Dunn Dan Pfeiffer since 2009 since 2009 Director of Public Engagement Christina Tchen since 2009 White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs since 2009 Director of Intergovernmental Affairs Cecilia Muñoz since 2009 Deputy Press Secretary Bill Burton since 2009 Director, National Economic Council Lawrence Summers since 2009 Deputy Press Secretary Jennifer Psaki since 2009 Deputy Director, National Economic Council Diana Farrell since 2009 Deputy Press Secretary Josh Earnest since 2009 Deputy Director, National Economic Council Jason Furman since 2009 Director of Speechwriting Jon Favreau since 2009 Chair of the President's Economic Recovery Advisory Board Paul Volcker since 2009 White House Counsel Greg Craig since 2009 Chair of the Council of Economic Advisors Christina Romer since 2009 Deputy White House Counsel Cassandra Butts since 2009 Member of the Council of Economic Advisors and Staff Director of the President's Economic Recovery Advisory Board Austan Goolsbee since 2009 Assistant to the President for Legislative Affairs Deputy Assistant to the President for Legislative Affairs Phil Schiliro Lisa Konwinski since 2009 since 2009 Member of the Council of Economic Advisors Cecilia Rouse since 2009 Executive Clerk George T. Saunders† since 2009 Director, Office of Management and Budget Peter R. Orszag since 2009 Director, Office of Political Affairs Patrick Gaspard since 2009 Chief Performance Officer and Deputy Director for Management, Office of Management and Budget Jeffrey Zients since 2009 Chief Technology Officer Chief Information Officer Aneesh Chopra Vivek Kundra since 2009 since 2009 Deputy Director, Office of Management and Budget Rob Nabors since 2009 Director, National Cyber Security Center Phil Reitinger* since 2009 United States Trade Representative Ron Kirk since 2009 Director, Office of Presidential Personnel Don Gips since 2009 Director, Domestic Policy Council Melody Barnes since 2009 Director of Scheduling and Advance Alyssa Mastromonaco since 2009 Deputy Director, Domestic Policy Council Heather Higginbottom since 2009 Director, White House Military Office vacant since 2009 Director, Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships Joshua DuBois since 2009 Cabinet Secretary Chris Lu since 2009 Director, Office of Health Reform Nancy DeParle since 2009 Deputy Cabinet Secretary Liz Sears Smith since 2009 Deputy Director, Office of Health Reform Jeanne Lambrew since 2009 Staff Secretary Lisa Brown since 2009 Assistant to the President for Energy and Climate Change Carol Browner since 2009 Director of Recovery for Auto Communities and Workers Edward B. Montgomery since 2009 Deputy Assistant to the President for Energy and Climate Change Heather Zichal since 2009 Director, Office of Management and Administration Bradley Kiley since 2009 Director, Office of National AIDS Policy Jeffrey Crowley since 2009 Director, Oval Office Operations Micaela Fernandez since 2009 Director, Office of National Drug Control Policy Gil Kerlikowske since 2009 Personal Aide to the President Reggie Love since 2009 Deputy Director, Office of National Drug Control Policy A. Thomas McLellan* since 2009 Personal Secretary to the President Katie Johnson since 2009 Director, Council on Environmental Quality Nancy Sutley since 2009 Special Projects Coordinator and Confidential Assistant to the President Eugene Kang since 2009 Director, Office of Urban Affairs Policy Adolfo Carrión, Jr. since 2009 Chief of Staff to the First Lady Susan Sher since 2009 Director, Office of Science and Technology Policy John Holdren since 2009 White House Social Secretary Desirée Rogers since 2009 *Senate-confirmation pending.   †Remained from previous administration(s).